Prince William's Billionaire Friend Dies Suddenly

Sunjay Kapur is the Chairman of Sono Koya Steering Systems Ltd, 2016. Photo by Deepaknp under CC BY-SA 4.0.

They called him the King of the Circuit. A billionaire. A jet-setter. A man who could match Prince William swing for swing on the polo field.

But no one — not even Sunjay Kapur — could have seen this coming.

On a sunny June afternoon at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor, England, the champagne was chilled, the horses groomed, and royalty was in attendance. Then, in a split second, the match came to a screeching halt. One of India's richest men collapsed on the field, not from a stroke, or a fall, but from what appeared to be an insect.

More specifically, a bee.

The Sting Heard 'Round the World

Sunjay Kapur, 53, chairman of auto parts empire Sona Comstar, was mid-game when he reportedly swallowed a bee that stung him in the mouth. Medical experts say internal stings can be lethal, especially when they trigger anaphylactic shock — a rapid allergic reaction that can stop the heart within minutes.

Kapur reportedly told bystanders, "I've swallowed something," before collapsing on the field, according to PEOPLE.

Witnesses said he motioned to halt the match just moments before he went down. Paramedics responded immediately, but the businessman was pronounced dead onsite.

While his exact cause of death is still under investigation, early reports from multiple outlets point to a fatal allergic reaction leading to a heart attack.

Billionaire, Prince's Pal, and Global Tycoon

Kapur wasn't just any polo player. He was a close friend of Prince William, with whom he had shared the field at numerous royal charity matches. He was a fixture on the elite polo scene in both India and the UK, his passion for the sport matched only by his business ambition.

Born into wealth, Sunjay inherited Sona Comstar from his father, Surinder Kapur, and built it into a global automotive powerhouse specializing in EV components. Under his leadership, the company raked in $412 million in revenue in the year ending March 2025, 36% of which came from electric vehicles.

He held elite credentials too, including a degree from the University of Buckingham and executive training from Harvard Business School.

His Rolodex spanned continents. His lifestyle was aspirational with yachts, royals, and Bollywood connections. And yet, it was a tiny bee that brought it all to an end.

Two Wives, Three Kids, and a Life in the Spotlight

Kapur was no stranger to headlines. His first marriage to Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor ended in a messy divorce in 2016 that played out in India's gossip columns. She once accused him of abandoning her and their sick child to play polo with Prince William.

The couple shared two children — Samaira, now 20, and Kiaan, 14. Kapur later married Priya Sachdev, a fashion entrepreneur and former model. They had one son, Azarias, age 7.

Despite the personal drama, he kept his cool. By most accounts, Kapur was generous, gregarious, and deeply devoted to his sport and his people. "He didn't distinguish between his grooms or high-net-worth friends," one friend told The Telegraph, according to PEOPLE. "When he had a party, everyone was invited and everyone was equal."

A Final Post and an Ominous Coincidence

Just hours before his death, Kapur posted a message of sympathy on X following the deadly Air India crash in Ahmedabad saying, "Terrible news of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected," he wrote, according to The Sun. "May they find strength in this difficult hour."

The chilling timing of his final message — one about death and tragedy — has not gone unnoticed by his followers. In retrospect, it feels eerily prophetic.

Death on the Field of Dreams

For those in his orbit, Kapur's death feels like a lightning strike. His friends say he was in excellent health. One source close to the family remarked to the Mirror, "No one could believe what had happened. It's a shocking reminder of how fragile life can be."

Polo, a sport of kings and billionaires, has always carried risks — but no one expected this.

References: Prince William's Polo Pal Dies 'After Swallowing Bee' During Match as Tributes Flood In | Prince William's Friend Dies After Swallowing a Bee at Windsor Polo Match: Reports | Indian Auto Components Billionaire Sunjay Kapur Dies At 53 | Prince William's Billionaire Pal Dies After Swallowing Bee While Playing Polo