Prince William's billionaire polo pal dies at 53 after swallowing bee during match in Windsor

WINDSOR, ENGLAND: Billionaire businessman and close friend of Prince William, Sunjay Kapur, 53, died on June 12, 2025, during a polo match at the prestigious Guards Polo Club in Windsor.

According to reports from The US Sun, the Indian-born industrialist is believed to have suffered a fatal heart attack, possibly triggered by an anaphylactic reaction after reportedly swallowing a bee mid-game.

The sudden loss has stunned friends and spectators alike, especially coming just hours after Kapur publicly honored the victims of the devastating Air India tragedy that claimed 241 lives.

Prince William's pal Sunjay Kapur collapses during Cartier Queen's Cup match

According to the Daily Mail, Sunjay Kapur died while competing in a semi-final match of the prestigious Cartier Queen’s Cup, with his team, Aureus, facing off against the Sujan Indian Tigers. 

The match, held on Tuesday, June 12, began at 3 pm on the historic Smith’s Lawn grounds—part of the elite Guards Polo Club, known for its close ties to the British royal family.

Founded in January 1955, the club was led by Prince Philip as president until his death in April 2021. Following Philip’s death, King Charles took on the role of club president last year, continuing the royal connection to one of the UK’s most exclusive polo venues.

Indian media reports suggest that Sunjay Kapur may have suffered a fatal anaphylactic shock after being stung by a bee inside his mouth during a polo match. 

Sources indicate he had asked for the game to be stopped moments before collapsing on the field. While preliminary accounts point to a severe allergic reaction, the exact cause of death is still under investigation.

On the personal front, Kapur was once married to Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor, with whom he had two children, Samaira and Kiaan. After their separation, he married Priya Sachdev, a former model and fashion entrepreneur, with whom he had a son named Azarias Kapur.

Tributes pour in after Sunjay Kapur dies at 53

Sunjay Kapur was the chairman of the global auto components giant Sona Comstar. The company issued a heartfelt statement mourning his sudden loss, saying, "We are deeply saddened by the sudden demise of our Chairman, Mr Sunjay Kapur." 

They praised his leadership, calling, "He was a visionary leader whose passion, insight and dedication shaped the identity and success of our company."

Author and actor Suhel Seth took to his X account to pay tribute following the death of Sunjay Kapur, “Deeply saddened at the passing of @sunjaykapur: he passed away earlier today in England. A terrible loss and deepest condolences to his family and to his colleagues.”

The Smith’s Lawn Grounds Club stated that its chairman, Lieutenant Colonel Sean O’Dwyer, along with the directors and members, were, “shocked to learn that Sunjay Kapur, owner of the Aureus polo team, died after becoming unwell when playing in a match at Smith’s Lawn.”

They continued, “The club sends its deepest condolences to his widow, Priya Sachdev, his children, the wider Kapur family and his Aureus team-mates.”

The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), a leading sports governing body in the UK, extended its condolences following Kapur’s death. “The HPA is enormously sad to confirm that Sunjay Kapur, patron of the Aureus Polo Team, passed away during a match at Guards on Thursday, 12 June. The incident was not playing-related and no further details will be released at this time.”

They added, “As the governing body, the HPA are supporting those involved and our thoughts are with Sunjay’s wife Priya, his family, and the team at this time, and we kindly request that their privacy is respected.”

Ashoka University, based in New Delhi, also released a statement mourning his death on X (formerly known as Twitter), “Ashoka University mourns the passing away of Sunjay Kapur, Chairman, Sona Comstar and a valued member of the Ashoka fraternity. A prominent figure in India's business community, he will be remembered for his leadership. Our deepest sympathies are with his family at this difficult time.”

Sunjay Kapur once left his sick son for a polo match with Prince William, claimed ex-wife

Sunjay Kapur was well known in the UK’s polo circles and shared a longstanding friendship with Prince William, frequently appearing on the royal polo circuit. His connections extended beyond William, as he was also friendly with several members of the aristocratic polo community.

According to Livemint, Karisma alleged that Kapur once left her and their ill four-month-old son behind to participate in a polo match with Prince William.

She reportedly stated: “(Sunjay) decided to carry on, leaving me behind to take care of our sick four-month-old son, just to play a Polo match with Prince William. I also realised that he had married me only because I was a famous and successful film star, which would facilitate him to be reported in the press.”

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.