Ben Duncan, a friend of Prince William from university days and former Big Brother contestant, died after falling 100 feet from the rooftop bar of a London hotel in October 2025. Without a will, his estate valued at £90,000 was left to his mother Monica Duncan by court order. The article focuses on the details of Duncan's financial and personal legacy, including tributes from friends like broadcaster Mike Hollingsworth who described him as having "infectious laugh" and "innate sense of style."
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Big Brother star Ben Duncan, aged 45 and a friend of Prince William from university days, died after falling nearly 100 feet from the rooftop bar of the Hilton-operated Trafalgar St James hotel in central London on October 30, 2025. The incident was initially reported as a 'man on the roof' call to police, who pronounced him dead at the scene despite emergency services' efforts. Duncan's estate was valued at £91,683 after covering debts and expenses, leaving it to his mother Monica Duncan of Frome in Somerset following a High Court ruling granting her letters of administration in July 2025.
Written for “Prince Williams Friend Death Mystery” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Big Brother star Ben Duncan left £90,000 in his estate after he died falling 100ft over the balcony of a rooftop bar.
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he → leave → bar
The 45-year-old, who had been a friend of Prince William at university, died without making a will, according to documents reviewed by the Daily Mail.
The High Court granted letters of administration to his mother Monica Duncan, of Frome in Somerset, in July this year.
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Court → die → July
It means she takes control of his estate.
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she → mean → estate
Papers show the gross value of Mr Duncan's assets was £218,450 – reduced to £91,683 following deductions to repay debts and cover expenses.
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value → show → expenses
Mr Duncan fell almost 100ft from the rooftop bar of the five-star, six-storey Trafalgar St James hotel, which sits on the edge of Trafalgar Square, on October 30 2025.
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which → fall → October
At the time of his death, he had been living in a ground floor flat in Pimlico, central London, just a few minutes' walk from the Houses of Parliament.
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he → live → Parliament
Police had been called to reports of a 'man on the roof' of the Hilton, where rooms can cost up to £1,000 a night, shortly before he was found.
The Metropolitan Police said at the time: 'Despite the best efforts from the London Ambulance service, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.'
Ben Duncan pictured with Davina McCall after being evicted from the Big Brother house in 2010
Duncan died after falling from the roof of the six-storey Hilton-operated Trafalgar St James hotel in central London
His close friend, the broadcaster Mike Hollingsworth, said he would be 'sorely missed' (pictured together in 2015)
His death was treated as 'unexpected, but not suspicious'.
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death → call → 2015
An outpouring of tributes followed: broadcaster Mike Hollingsworth, whom Mr Duncan had regarded as a 'second father', said he 'lived life like Peter Pan - the boy who never grew up'.
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who → follow → Pan
He wrote on Facebook at the time: 'He will be sorely missed by his many, many friends, who grew to love his charm, his wit, his infectious laugh and his innate sense of style.
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who → write → style
TV presenter Josie Gibson, who appeared alongside him on Big Brother and ultimately won the series, said he was 'one of the most unique, hilariously funny, dry-witted guys I know'.
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I → appear → guys
Mr Duncan rose to fame after he entered the 11th series of the reality show in 2010 – the last on Channel 4 before the rights were purchased by Channel 5.
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rights → rise → Channel
His posh personality and sarcasm led to clashes with housemates and nominations for eviction every week.
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personality → lead → eviction
He told Digital Spy of his time in the house: 'I did make comments in there, but I don't think I was that b****y.
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I → tell → comments
We are under pressure in there and you do become snappy.
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you → become → pressure
'My dad has a very pithy wit.
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dad → have → wit
I've been brought up to be quite sarcastic and that can come across as b****y.
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that → bring → ?
If they hurt people's feelings then I regret that.'
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I → hurt → that
The publicity of Big Brother led to appearances on Celebrity Coach Trip and Come Dine With Me.
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publicity → lead → Me
However, he was also well known for his royal connections, having attended the University of St Andrews alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton, now Catherine, Princess of Wales.
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he → know → Wales
Speaking to American outlet E! News in 2011, he recalled the prince as 'social' but 'very low key', while he thought of the future princess as a 'jolly-holly hockey sticks girl... always organising, she's a natural leader'.
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she → speak → girl
And in an earlier interview with the Daily Mail, he recalled how the prince's eyes 'were like stalks' when he saw Kate in the daring sheer dress she wore during a 2002 student fashion show.
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she → recall → show
The reality star quipped at the time: '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.'
An inquest into Mr Duncan's death is due to be opened later this year.
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inquest → quip → death
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