Camilla and Charles 'utterly devastated' as Duchess's brother Mark Shand, 62, dies after slipping and smashing his head when he left £1million fundraiser in New York for his elephant charity
- Duchess of Cornwall's brother Mark Shand slipped while smoking cigarette
- He suffered a serious head injury and was taken to hospital
- Clarence House: 'Mark Shand was a man of extraordinary vitality, a tireless campaigner and conservationist'
- On the day of his death Mr Shand presided over an auction which raised £1million for his charity Elephant Family and another scheme
- Police say Mr Shand fell outside the Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel
- Pictured last night at a Faberge charity event with his rumoured fianceé
The Duchess of Cornwall was left ‘utterly devastated’ last night by the death of her younger brother in New York.
Mark Shand, 62, suffered a head injury when he slipped and fell on the pavement on a night out in Manhattan. He was put on life support but doctors could not save him and he died 12 hours later.
Camilla, 66, was extremely close to her only brother, who was known for his swashbuckling travel books and passionate commitment to conservation.
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Tragedy: Camilla, 66, was extremely close to her only brother, who was known for his swashbuckling travel books and passionate commitment to conservation
Compere: On the day of his death, auctioneer Mr Shand had been overseeing the Faberge Big Egg Hunt auction at Sotheby's in New York to raise money for his elephant charity
Charity: The auction was being held to raise funds for the Elephant Family, which works to prevent the extinction of the endangered Asian elephant
Party: Mr Shand with Diane von Furstenberg and another guest at the Big Egg Hunt auction, just hours before his death
Camilla, 66, was extremely close to her only brother, who was known for his swashbuckling travel books and passionate commitment to conservation.
A source close to her said: ‘The Duchess is up at Birkhall [her and Charles’s Scottish retreat] with the Prince at the moment and to say that she is devastated is an understatement. They are a very close family and even if they didn’t see each other every week – as was often the case with Mark – were in constant contact.
‘It is just the most tragic of accidents. No one can quite believe it has happened. He was always such a vital man, so full of life.’
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Mr Shand had travelled to New York to host a Sotheby’s auction of egg sculptures decorated by leading artists in aid of his Elephant Family charity and underprivileged children.
The event, which raised nearly £1million, was attended by Princess Eugenie. Mr Shand then attended an after-party at the exclusive Diamond Horseshoe club off Times Square, which features burlesque and vaudeville-style acts.
Location: Mr Shand had overseen a charity auction at Sotheby's in New York, before heading to an after party at the Diamond Horseshoe club at the Paramount Hotel. Police said he fell outside the Rose Bar, and was taken to the Bellvue Hospital
Venue: The Sotheby's New York branch, where the fundraising auction was being held
Good spirits: Sources said that Shand was in good spirits at the auction, and that he had then attended after-party at the luxury Diamond Horseshoe nightclub at the Paramount Hotel
A fellow guest said he appeared to be ‘on top of the world’ after the successful fundraiser. Mr Shand had left the venue and was apparently on his way to bed at 3am when he tripped while trying to light a cigarette and hit his head outside the Rose Bar of the Gramercy Park Hotel.
He was taken to the nearby Bellevue Hospital and put on a life support machine, but died at about 5pm UK time.
Mr Shand's older sister the Duchess of Cornwall was said to be 'utterly devastated' by his death.
A Clarence House spokesman said: 'It is with deep sadness that we have to confirm that The Duchess of Cornwall's brother, Mark Shand, has today passed away.'
'Mr Shand died in hospital as a result of a serious head injury which he sustained during a fall last night.
'The Duchess, The Prince of Wales and all her family members are utterly devastated by this sudden and tragic loss.
'Mark Shand was a man of extraordinary vitality, a tireless campaigner and conservationist whose incredible work through the Elephant Family and beyond remained his focus right up until his death.'
Travel writer and auctioneer Mr Shand had set up charity Elephant Family in 2002 to help prevent the extinction of the endangered Asian elephant.
A spokesman for Elephant Family said: 'Today we have lost the head of our family. Mark Shand was a true force for conservation.
After party: Club organisers say he had left the party at the Diamond Horseshoe prior to his fall
Fall: According to police, Mr Shand slipped and fell outside the Rose Bar at the high-end Gramecy Park Hotel (pictured)
Trauma: The New York Police Department said emergency services picked up Mr Shand outside the Rose Bar
Night spot: Inside the exclusive Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York
Exclusive: The Rose Bar, which is open until 4am, boasts furniture by Julian Schnabel, and the rotating art work on walls includes pieces by Andy Warhol, Damien Hurst and Keith Haring
Emergency: According to police in New York, Mr Shand was taken to the Bellevue Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead
Official: A spokesman for the New York medical examiner's office confirmed that Mr Shand's death had been reported to them
'He was both a legend and inspiration and above all our great friend. We ask at this time that people’s thoughts are with his loved ones. We will miss him always.'
A spokesman from Clarence House said the rest of the Royal family had been told of Mr Shand's death, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are currently in Australia with their baby son George.
The couple interrupted their visit to Canberra today to express their sadness over the death of Mr Shand.
Kate and William said their thoughts were with Camilla and her family after receiving news of his apparent accidental death.
A statement issued by royal tour officials today said: 'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were saddened to learn this morning of the tragic death of Mark Shand.
'Their thoughts are with the Duchess of Cornwall and her family at this time.'
The couple's three week tour comes to an end on Friday after their visit to Canberra.
Connections: Mr Shand with Princess Eugenie at another Faberge Big Egg Hunt held earlier this month (left) and in January (right). She was also in attendance at Tuesday's auction
Guest: Princess Eugenie, who is working at auction house Paddle 8 in New York, poses alongside an egg designed by British artist Tracey Emin at Tuesday's auction
Mr Shand was romantically linked to several famous women before in 1990 he married French actress Clio Goldsmith, the niece of billionaire entrepreneur Sir James Goldsmith and the cousin of Jemima Khan and Tory MP Zac Goldsmith. The couple, who have a 19-year-old daughter Ayesha, divorced in 2009.
And just hours before his death, Mr Shand was pictured with Ruth Powys, the beautiful blonde rumoured to be his fianceé.
With beaming smiles the two were pictured hosting the Faberge Big Egg Hunt auction at Sothebys in New York on Tuesday night.
Miss Powys is said to have been quietly dating the conservationist for several years.
Indeed, according to the Daily Mail’s Richard Kay, the couple were said to have been ‘unofficially engaged’.
Miss Powys, the CEO of Mr Shand’s charity, Elephant Family, was brought up by missionaries.
Ruth Powys, the girlfriend of Mark Shand, pictured with the conservationist just hours before his death as he hosted The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt at Sothebys in New York
Along with her twin sister, Mary, Ruth developed into an outspoken advocate for human rights among her peers and became particularly sensitive to issues affecting women.
This lead to her arrest in 1997 for organising a campaign against Virgin Cola’s sexually exploitative advertising.
She went on to read Early Modern History at the University of Essex where subjects such as slavery, genocide and gender history motivated her to pursue a career in the not-for-profit sector.
After graduating, Ruth studied with the Institute of Public Relations.
In 2004, Ruth joined forces with travel writer and adventurer Mr Shand, to establish their conservation charity.
On her website, it says: ‘Between Mark’s black book and Ruth’s creative ideas and energy she developed the charity from a team of one to what it is today; a £3m turnover conservation power house for the endangered Asian elephant.’
Mary Powys (left) has flown to New York to comfort her twin sister Ruth, 35, (right), who is rumoured to have been Mark Shand's (centre) finacee. The 62-year-old died yesterday after falling through a revolving door and hitting his head on the pavement outside the Gramercy Park Hotel
Ruth had been a constant presence with Mr Shand as they promoted the Big Egg Hunt over the past few weeks.
The couple were pictured together on Tuesday, April 15, alongside Mary Powys, in New York at a dinner in celebration of the Faberge event, and she even appeared on the Today show to garner more coverage.
Since parting with his wife Clio, Richard Kay said Mr Shand had been close to only Ruth.
And this is why he was so upset when he was linked to the Italian firecracker Nancy Dell’Olio, the former girlfriend of ex-England football manager Sven Goran Eriksson.
He described Nancy as a 'remarkable character', but said: 'Let me be clear, I have never had an affair with Nancy Dell’Olio.
'We have never dated. There is no romance; there has not been any romance, there never will be.'
He continued: 'I am more likely to have an affair with a ripe pomegranate! And I am very fond of pomegranates.'
Proud: Mark Shand with Mary Shand (left) and sister Ruth, who is rumoured to have dated Mr Shand for years and was considered to be his fianceé
He insisted their relationship was purely professional.
'I know Nancy through my charity work,' he said.
'We have met and talked, even had a cup of tea together.
'There have been some staggering stories written which are laughably untrue.'
Richard Kay added: ‘The fact that his relationship with Ruth was not on firmer footing had led inevitably to such gossip because Mark Shand was still seen as one of the capital’s great catches.’
Mr Shand was in Manhattan overseeing the sale to raise funds for Elephant Family, and another scheme, Studio In A School, which raises money for children in New York City.
The auction saw a number of giant decorated Easter eggs, created by a number of artists and celebrities including sculptor Marc Quinn, fashion house Marchesa as well as designers Ralph Lauren and Carolina Herrera with eggs going for as much as $7,000.
It was billed as the grand finale to the Faberge Big Egg Hunt, where hundreds of the intricately decorated eggs were positioned around New York, with members of the public encouraged to find the eggs and post photographs of them on social media sites.
Charity: Mr Shand had overseen the auction, which saw a number of eggs decorated by artists and celebrities including Marc Quinn and Ralph Lauren sold off, with some going for as much as $7,000
One of the eggs, designed to look like nursery rhyme character Humpty Dumpty, had been signed by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, after it was decorated by students at the Prince's Drawing School in Hackney, London.
The couple had written: 'Humpty Dumpty is always a favourite nursery rhyme character. We are delighted to send our Big Egg to the Big Apple!'
Southeby's said today it was 'deeply saddened' by the news, and that it was honored to have helped Mr Shand raise money for his causes.
The prestigious event was attended by a host of names from the New York social scene including fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, a trustee of Elephant Family, model Leigh Lezark and socialite Atlanta de Cadenet.
The auction, which raised $1.6million US dollars (£950,000) for charity, was also been attended by Princess Eugenie, who is working at auction house Paddle 8 in New York, and has been a guest at other Big Egg Hunt events, where she was photographed with Mr Shand.
Sculptor Suydam Lansing, worked closely with Mr Shand on the Faberge Big Egg Hunt and was at his side for much of Tuesday evening, said: 'He was so happy because the auction went so well.
'Mark was a totally lovely character and was always happy.
Artwork: Mr Shand with the Humpty Dumpty egg, signed by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, outside Clarence House in 2012
'But I would say that yesterday was one of the happiest days ever for him because he had worked so hard on the project and it went so well.
'There was a big team of us working on it and we were all pleased at the way it went.
'Mark and I went to the after party at the Paramount Hotel but I left before him.'
Mrs Lansing, 69, said she had heard nothing from Clarence House or any of the Shand family as regards plans for Mr Shand's funeral.
'I think it is too early to know of arrangements yet. Everyone is in shock.
'He was so happy last night and what happened is just shocking.'
A spokesman for Alexander Gilkes, founder of Paddle8, who helped organise the egg hunt and auction, said: 'He is not speaking to the press at this time. He was there last night but doesn't want to say anything.'
Sources said that Shand was in good spirits at the auction, and that he had then attended after-party at the luxury Diamond Horseshoe nightclub at the Paramount Hotel on W46th Street, near Times Square, which features burlesque and vaudeville-style acts.
A guest at the Diamond Horseshoe party said Mr Shand had 'stayed till the very end,' and had later went onto a bar with friends.
In laws: Mr Shand with Prince Charles visit the elephant corridor at Vazhachal Forest Range in the Thrissur district of Kerala, India in November last year
Close ties: Mr Shand and Prince Charles at a memorial service for Mr Shand's father Major Bruce Shand at St Paul's Church in Knightsbridge, London in September 2006
Black tie: The Prince and his brother-in-law arrive together at the Ormeley environmental and conservation charity dinner at Bridgewater House in June last year
The New York Post claimed that Mr Shand had been drinking and was on blood pressure medication that sometimes gave him dizzy spells.
Upmarket Gramercy Park Hotel is famed for once hosting an array of celebrity guests including John F. Kennedy, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Bob Marley.
Earlier this month Barack and Michelle Obama dined at the hotel's Italian restaurant.
The hotel's exclusive Rose Bar, which is open until 4am, boasts furniture by Julian Schnabel, and the rotating art work on the bar's walls includes pieces by Andy Warhol, Damien Hurst and Keith Haring.
Last night the entrance to the hotel was guarded by a manager and security guard, while the Rose Bar and the Gramercy's other venue the Jade Bar were quiet - populated only by a few tourists and business workers enjoying expensive cocktails.
Bar staff said they know nothing about the tragedy, and asked why members of the media were camped on the doorstep.
A spokesman from the Diamond Horseshoe said: 'It can be confirmed that Mr. Shand was at the Diamond Horseshoe last night and that he departed the venue.
Accident: Mr Shand, pictured with his sister at a family wedding, is believed to have slipped while lighting a cigarette
Siblings: The Duchess and Mr Shand (right) at the wedding of their niece Alice Elliot in Dorset
Family: Mr Shand and his ex-wife Clio at a private dinner in Chelsea in 2007 (left), and with his daughter Ayesha (right) at a Big Egg Hunt event earlier this year
Tender: Mr Shand greets his nephew Tom Parker-Bowles at Major Shand's memorial service
'The accident occurred later in the evening at another destination. We regret the news of his passing and thoughts are with his family at this time.'
The party was co-hosted by concierge and 'lifestyle management' service Quintessentially, which was co-founded by Mr Shand and the Duchess's nephew, Ben Elliot.
Mr Elliot's mother Annabel is another sister of Mr Shand.
A spokesman from the New York branch of Quintessentially was unable to comment on Mr Shand's fall at this stage.
A spokesman from the New York Police Department said emergency services picked up Mr Shand outside the city's Rose Bar at the high-end Gramercy Park Hotel, where he had fallen.
He was taken to the nearby Bellevue Hospital and put on a life support machine, but died at about 5pm UK time, following the fall at 3am yesterday morning, local time.
A spokesman for the New York medical examiner’s office confirmed that Mr Shand’s death had been reported to them.
'Inspiration': In a statement Elephant Family described Mr Shand as 'the head of our family' and called him 'a legend and inspiration'
Amicable: Mr and Mrs Shand together in 2005 (left), and pictured at the wedding of her nephew Ben Goldsmith in 2003 (right), prior to their divorce in 2009
Family man: Mr Shand and his daughter at a Big Egg Hunt auction in London in 2012, and as a family in 2010
An autopsy is expected to be carried out in the coming days but the spokesman said she could not provide any further details at this stage.
The tragedy casts doubt on the Duchess and the Prince of Wales’s planned tour of Canada next month.
Flying out on May 18, the pair were due to take part in events marking the centenary of World War One.
They were also set to celebrate Victoria Day, a public holiday in Canada in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday.
The royal source said: ‘It is too early to say what will happen with next month’s tour.’
The Duchess of Cornwall last appeared publicly at the London Book Fair on April 9.
Camilla always spoke of her brother in deeply affectionate terms, even if his somewhat eccentric lifestyle was a far cry from the world she entered after marrying Charles in 2005.
Mr Shand escorted the Prince around a forest with a specially created ‘elephant corridor’ on the royal couple’s official tour of India last year. He also undertook a 25-mile walk for the National Osteoporosis Society, of which the Duchess is president, in 2012.
Display: The Duchess of Cornwall, pictured with Mr Shand at Elephant Parade exhibition at Chelsea Hospital Gardens was said to be 'utterly devastated' by his death
Inspection: Camilla comes face to face with another elephant at the event, which raised money for charity the Asian Elephant Foundation
Miss Dell’Olio was said to be ‘shocked and devastated’ at the news of Mr Shand’s death.
A source close to her said: ‘She was told the news shortly after it happened by friends in the UK.
‘She said there just were no words – what a wonderful man.’
Former Pakistan cricketer turned politician Imran Khan took to Twitter to pay tribute to Mr Shand.
He wrote: 'Shocked & saddened to learn of the death of one of my closest English friends',Mark Shand, in New York where he was raising funds 4 charity.'
Mr Khan's ex-wife Jemima Khan, cousin of Clio Shand added: 'RIP Mark Shand: Best man, godfather to my son & my cousin's ex'.
Television personality Piers Morgan tweeted: 'What an awful, tragic thing to happen. Poor Camilla & her family incl @tomparkerbowles.'
And Bianca Jagger, who Mr Shand was once linked with romantically, wrote: 'Devastated by the loss of my friend Mark Shand. He was an inspiration, a true conservationist. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.'
FROM STUDIO 54 TO SAVING ELEPHANTS - MARK SHAND'S LIFE AND TIMES
Charity: Mark Shand launched the Elephant Family charity in 2002
Mark Shand, 62, was a British travel writer and auctioneer.
Mr Shand, who was born on June 28, 1951, to Major Bruce Shand and his wife the Hon. Rosalind Maud Cubitt, also had a strong interest in the Hindu religion and Indian culture.
He had two sisters, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall and Annabel Elliot.
He was chairman of the Elephant Family – a wildlife foundation which aims to save the endangered Asian elephant from extinction in the wild.
He founded the charity in 2002 with four partners and help from financial backers Sir Evelyn de Rothschild and Bruce Weber. Other famous names, including Goldie Hawn, Diane von Furstenberg, and Ben and Zac Goldsmith have all been involved at various stages.
The Duchess of Cornwall’s brother, who went to school at Milton Abbey in Dorset before being expelled, had several books published including Travels on My Elephant and River Dog.
He has also featured in many television programmes and documentaries including the BBC’s Queen of the Elephants.
As a BBC conservationist, he authored a book based on the life of the first female mahout, an elephant handler, in recent times — Parbati Barua of Kaziranga. The book went on to win the 1996 Thomas Cook Travel Book Award and the Prix Litteraire d'Amis.
Prior to carving out his living as a travel writer, Mr Shand tried his hand at buying and selling antiques – spending the first part of his adult life traveling the globe his friend Harry Fane – who went on to become one of London’s top vintage jewellery dealers.
He was inspired to start writing after meeting an elephant called Tara during one trip overseas. He spotted her during a trip to eastern India in 1988 and wrote about her in a best-selling book, saying the encounter changed his life forever.
After growing up in East Sussex, Shand was a regular at infamous New York night club, Studio 54, which he once said ‘reminded me of the end of the Roman Empire’.
He proposed to supermodel Marie Helvin — she described him as ‘impulsive, emotional and open-hearted, with the most beautiful body I had ever seen’ — but she said no; and JFK’s daughter Caroline was apparently crazy about him.
He later married the dark-haired, charismatic actress Cleo Goldsmith, the niece of James Goldsmith. They have a 19-year-old daughter Ayesha, but divorced in 2009.
Since then he was discreet about his dates, although last month he denied being in a relationship with Strictly Come Dancing star Nancy Dell’Olio, the former girlfriend of ex-England football manager Sven Goran Eriksson.
While Shand owned a flat in Bayswater, London, he spent most of his time travelling.
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