Tragedy in the Royal Circle: A Close Person of Prince William — One of the First to Know About His Budding Romance with Kate Middleton — Plunges 100 Feet to His Death

The quiet of a late October night in Westminster was shattered by a harrowing scene — a man had plunged from the rooftop of a seven-story building, landing near one of London's busiest landmarks.

At 11:02 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, police were dispatched to Cockspur Street after receiving urgent reports of concern for a man spotted on the roof of a central London building.

Shortly afterward, his body was discovered in Spring Gardens, just off Trafalgar Square. The man fell from the rooftop bar of London's Trafalgar St. James Hotel, a building equipped with protective safety screens, before police officers reached the scene.

"Despite the best efforts from the London Ambulance service, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene," a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told the Daily Mail. "His death is unexpected but non-suspicious."

Reality TV Star Remembered for Wit and Eccentricity

The man was later identified as Ben Duncan, a former contestant on "Big Brother 11," the final season of which aired on Channel 4 in 2010. Known to fans by the nickname quiffhead, Duncan's sharp tongue and offbeat charisma made him one of the most unforgettable personalities in the show's history.

In an interview that same year, he spoke warmly about his time in the house, singling out a unique friendship, "Dave Vaughan the monk is someone I know I will keep in touch with. It was an honour to know him."

"When we arrived in that whirlwind, the first weeks were hard to get used to and acclimatise to […] Dave was one of the people that I warmed to and his love of life made my time much more enjoyable," he added.

Always one to find humor in hardship, Duncan approached the pressures of reality television with cheeky defiance. "You just have to lie back and think of England and Wales," he quipped, reflecting on the lack of privacy and intensity of house life.

A Rare Public Appearance amid Years of Seclusion

Though the late reality star maintained a relatively low profile after his television days, he occasionally emerged for select events. One such moment came in 2018, when he made an impromptu appearance at a Chelsea Street Party after learning about it only hours beforehand. The event's free-spirited atmosphere clearly enchanted him, prompting him to describe it as:

"London space secret party and it's amazing […] It's the best of the best, but yet it's unpretentious, the people have fun, it's an old-fashioned street party, [a] lot of goodwill, [a] lot of quirky things, what's not to like."

The festivity so captivated him that he barely thought about leaving, even with other obligations waiting.

Once in the Orbit of Royalty

Before television fame, Duncan moved in privileged academic circles at the University of St Andrews, where he crossed paths with Prince William and Kate Middleton during the early days of their relationship.

In November 2010, Duncan reflected on his time at the university, recalling how the presence of the budding couple brought royal protection officers to campus, though they were largely left to themselves.

He also remembered the now-famous student fashion show, widely credited as the moment Middleton captured the prince's attention. He recalled the defining interaction:

"She brushed by him on the way to the catwalk and things were never the same again — the whole history of the monarchy had been altered."

Tributes for a Singular Life

In the wake of the sudden death of the bubbly "Big Brother" star, messages of shock and sorrow poured in from those who knew him best. On November 3, 2025, broadcaster Mike Hollingsworth confirmed the news in a solemn post on social media.

Another friend remembered Duncan not for his fame, but for his deeper passions, "Ben was always the life and soul of the party. Although he appeared on reality TV shows, Ben's true passions were politics and music. In recent years, he had become more reclusive — and had struggled with insomnia. It's truly devastating that he's gone so soon."

Though remembered by millions for his televised antics and eccentric flair, Duncan's enduring legacy lies in his intellect, empathy, and uniquely human presence. A man who moved between television screens, street parties, and university halls with equal ease, leaving an indelible mark on everyone he encountered.