Tara Palmer-Tomkinson passed away in her sleep, her family has revealed in a brief statement. The death notice was posted on page 26 of the Daily Telegraph, reading: "Tara Clare died peacefully in her sleep." Her family also revealed that a private funeral will be held in due course. It comes after her sister Santa Montefiore shared a touching tribute on Twitter. Sharing a photo of the former IT Girl, Santa wrote: "My darling sister. I miss you." She sadly accompanied it with a heartbroken emoji.
In memoriam: Tara remembers her favourite HELLO! shoots
Tara, who lived in a flat in Earl's Court, west London, passed away aged 45 on Wednesday. Her cleaner is believed to have called the police and ambulance services after finding Tara at home. The reality TV star, who came runner-up in the first series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, was pronounced dead at the scene. A police spokesperson told HELLO! Online: "Police were called by London Ambulance Service at approximately 13:40hrs on Wednesday, 8 February to an address in Bramham Gardens, SW5. A woman, aged in her 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been informed. The death is being treated as unexplained. At this early stage, police are not treating the death as suspicious. Enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing. The Coroner has been informed."
Tara's sister Santa Montefiore paid tribute on Twitter
Friends of the popular star have been paying tribute. Tara was incredibly close to the British royal family, in particular her close friend, Prince Charles. The future King and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall released a statement that read: "We are deeply saddened and our thoughts are so much with the family."
Her close friend Duncan James has also opened up about their bond, saying that he takes comfort from the fact Tara is now at peace. "I could talk all day about her because that is how much she meant to me and how much she affected my life on a daily basis and so many hearts are broken who knew and loved Tara and she will be missed so very much," the Blue singer wrote in his column for The Sun. Speaking about the "demons" she faced, Duncan added: "She sadly battled many demons and now she will be truly at rest without being frightened or scared."
© Photo: PAThe death notice was printed in The Daily Telegraph
Tara's death comes just three months after she revealed she was battling a brain tumour. She started receiving treatment for her condition in January 2016. Speaking to HELLO!, Tara also admitted that she had closed the door on her former partying lifestyle. "I have been very, very blessed to have done the BAFTAS, Oscars events and so on – so many of them in so many years. I appreciate and remember every one," she said. "However, now I am switches. I just like roast chicken with my mates around the kitchen table. Maybe that's a sign of my age. People come to my house now. I don't like to look too much into things. Hey, after the rain there's always sunshine!"
