Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William paused their tour of Australia to express their sadness over the death of Camilla Parker Bowles' brother, Mark Shand.
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were saddened to learn this morning of the tragic death of Mark Shand,” the couple said in a statement.
“Their thoughts are with the Duchess of Cornwall and her family at this time.”
Mr. Shand hit his head on the ground after falling while trying to re-enter the revolving doors of the Gramercy Park Hotel after stepping outside for a cigarette.
He was placed on life support when he arrived at the hospital, but died twelve hours later from the serious head injury.
Lt. John Grimpel of the New York City Police Department told BNOnews: "Mark Shand attempted to re-enter the hotel through the revolving doors.
"Mark Shand unexpectedly fell backwards, striking his head on the pavement. The incident was also captured on the hotel’s video surveillance system."
Prince William's stepmother, The Duchess of Cornwall, and father Charles, the Prince of Wales, were at their Scottish retreat Birkhall, on the Balmoral estate when they received the devastating news of Mr Shand's death.
A source close to the Duchess of Cornwall revealed to the Mail Online that Camilla is "utterly devastated" by her brother's death.
"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 - they 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."