Fashion designer Alexander McQueen hanged himself in a closet his home in central London after leaving a note at the scene, an inquest into his death heard on Wednesday revealed. This morning, a British medical examiner confirmed to Westminister Coroner Court that the designer died of asphyxiation and hanging due to suicide.

The fashion designer — a five-time winner of Britain’s coveted “Designer of the Year” Prize — killed himself on the eve of the funeral of his mother, Joyce.

“At about 10.30am last Thursday, February 11, a man was found hanging in his wardrobe at Flat 1, Green Street, London, W1. On Monday February 15, he was identified as Lee Alexander McQueen, aged 40, born 17/3/69 in Lewisham, south east London. He was a single man, a fashion designer. He resided at Flat 1, 7 Green Street W1K,” Coroner’s officer Lynda Martindill said during a five-minute hearing early Wednesday.

A letter was passed to reporters asking them to respect the McQueen family’s privacy: “This notice on behalf of the McQueen family for your recognition that it has suffered a grievous double loss in a very short space of time and that any insensitive and/or intrusive photographs and/or footage will only compound to the family’s distress.”