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.
Two police officers standing side by side in front of their police vehicles. | Source: Getty Images
Shortly afterward, his body was discovered in Spring Gardens, just off Trafalgar Square. The fall came from the rooftop bar of London's Trafalgar St. James Hotel, a seven-story building equipped with protective safety screens, before police officers reached the scene.
The outer view of the Trafalgar St James hotel overlooking London's Trafalgar Square. | Source: Getty Images
"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."
Metropolitan Police officers are seen on a street in London. | Source: Getty Images
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 with Digital Spy, a UK-based entertainment news and media platform, 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 […] his love of life made my time much more enjoyable."
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.
Ben Duncan as seen in a video post dated June 18, 2018. | Source: YouTube/WinkBallInterviews
Though Duncan 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.
Ben Duncan is clearly delighted by the scene at the street party, as seen in a video post dated June 18, 2018. | Source: YouTube/WinkBallInterviews
Before television fame, Duncan had moved in privileged academic circles. As a student at the University of St Andrews, he shared lecture halls — and occasionally social events — with Prince William and Kate Middleton, as their courtship quietly unfolded.
According to the publication, Duncan once reflected on the media frenzy that trailed the couple's every move. He also attended the now-iconic student fashion show, said to have first captured the prince's attention. Looking back, Duncan further remarked how the moment seemed to shift the course of royal history in real time, saying:
"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."
Ben Duncan from the video post dated June 18, 2018. | Source: YouTube/WinkBallInterviews
In the wake of his sudden death, messages of shock and sorrow have poured in from those who knew him best. On November 3, 2025, Mike Hollingsworth confirmed the news in a solemn post on social media.
Another friend, speaking to the outlet, 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 — and who left an indelible mark on everyone he encountered.