Prince Charles's Brother-In-Law Mark Shand Dies Following Head Injury

April 23, 2014 -- Prince Charles's brother-in-law Mark Shand has died following a head injury. He was 62.

"It is with deep sadness that we have to confirm that The Duchess of Cornwall's brother, Mark Shand, has today passed away in New York. Mr. Shand died in hospital as a result of a serious head injury which he sustained during a fall last night," Clarence House said in a statement.

"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."

Shand, a one-time playboy and thrill-seeker, became a conservationist whose mission was to save the Asian elephant from extinction. After riding his elephant, Tara, across India, he set up a charity, Elephant Family. He had been at a fundraising event for the charity before he fell and was taken to hospital.

Prince Charles married the Duchess of Cornwall on April 9, 2005 in a small civil ceremony before saying "I do," at Windsor Castle. Shand was her younger brother.