Heartbreak for Prince Harry’s model ex Florence Brudenell-Bruce as relative falls to his death while letting cat out
A RELATIVE of Prince Harry’s model ex-flame Florence Brudenell-Bruce has died in freak accident.
The Marquess of Ailesbury plunged to his death after falling out of his bedroom window while letting his pet cat out.
It is thought the 98-year-old died instantly after crashing his head onto the concrete patio below at his home in London.
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Florence dated for two months in 2011.
She went on to marry multi-millionaire Henry St George in July 2013.
The Marquess, Michael Brudenell-Bruce, was found on Sunday by his stunned partner, 88-year-old Teresa Marshall de Paoli who had been cooking supper.
She believes he had been lying there for at least an hour.
Teresa called the emergency services and the police shortly afterwards confirmed his death.
Yesterday distraught Teresa – who had been his partner for 36 years – said the police treated the death as a “crime scene” although she was not arrested.
Later she was allowed to say goodbye and spray his favourite aftershave on his body.
Teresa said: “They thought I might have killed him before they realised he had fallen out of the window.
“It was an absolutely freak accident.
“There had not been a row – I had not hit him.
“I think the cat called Honeybun got her head stuck and he pushed it (the window) up and lost his balance and he fell onto to the patio.
“He fell five feet breaking the roses on wall as he fell.
”He hit the concrete with back of head – I was told that would have killed him.
“He could have been lying there an hour, an hour and a half. He was cold and very pale.
“I got a cushion and put it under his head. I dialled 999 and said my partner has had an accident.
“The ambulance and police was here within seven minutes and a police officer, a woman said he was dead.
“A Police officer said death was instant. The police treated it as a crime.”
It was an absolutely freak accident. There had not been a row – I had not hit him
Teresa Marshall de Paoli
She contacted his daughter Lady Kathryn Brudenell Bruce who dashed to the scene after the tragedy late Sunday evening.
“I could not go to the toilet alone – I had to spend all night in an arm chair drawing room with Lady Kathryn. We could not go into any other room.
“The police were there all night and all the following day.
“After three hours a police forensic team arrived – six men and women dress in white from head to foot.
“Then more arrived – at one time there was 21 here.”
They had lived all the time at the house for 14 years since they left his home in Savernake Forest.
“He was very slim. He had dementia.
“Afterwards I sprayed him with his favourite aftershave. I do not know how I did it.
“It broke my heart. It took me half an hour. I have been looking after him and nursing him for years.
“I said to him ‘Oh my darling what has happened’ but he was dead.”
A spokesman for the Met Police said: “Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 20:05hrs on Sunday, 12 May, to an address in Abdale Road, W12, after a man in his 90’s was found deceased.
“Officers and London Ambulance Service attended.
“His next of kin have been informed.
“The death is as unexpected but not being treated suspicious.”