Who Is Rose Hanbury? Meet The Marchioness In The Royals' Inner ...
We’re now bordering close to 100 days since Kate Middleton was sighted in public. The Princess of Wales last appeared in front of paparazzi lenses on December 25 for the royal family’s annual Christmas Day mass tradition at Sandringham. But after a “planned abdominal surgery” in early January, netizens have spawned countless conspiracy theories about the nature of the operation, her whereabouts and whether she was forced to take the blame in the infamous photoshopping scandal.
Fast forward one Mother’s Day photo later, a new name has joined the lexicon of internet sleuths trying to get to the bottom of Kate Middleton’s supposed “disappearance”. Enter: Rose Hanbury. This name would already be familiar to royalists, though you might prefer to refer to Hanbury by her official title, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley. (An unfortunate name, yes, but one fitting for the unfortunate rumours surrounding this situation and Hanbury’s alleged involvement in it).
Hanbury was once a member of Kate Middleton and Prince William’s inner circle but after a speculated “rural rift” between the Princess and Marchioness in 2019, the aristocrat remained far from palace gates. But now, after the surprising appointment by King Charles III during his coronation weekend and a future Queen MIA, Hanbury and her connection to the royals has again come under the microscope.
As the rumours went, Hanbury was allegedly Prince William’s mistress of over five years, and their reported relationship has been speculated to be behind Middleton’s disappearance. Of course, there is zero evidence to support this theory, but this isn’t the first instance of Hanbury’s name appearing in headlines next to the Waleses. Ahead, meet the Marchioness that the British press can’t keep off their lips.
KING’S LYNN, ENGLAND – JUNE 22: Prince William and Kate Middleton are greeted by Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley as they attend a gala dinner in support of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices’ nook appeal at Houghton Hall on June 22, 2016 in King’s Lynn, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images) Who Is Rose Hanbury?Born Sarah Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley is a member of British nobility and through her marriage to David Rocksavage Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley. Born in 1984, the Marchioness recently celebrated her 40th birthday on March 15. Little is known about her upbringing, but she was formerly a model working in London’s fashion circuit and once a researcher for a Conservative politician.
Hanbury and her husband share three children, twin boys Alexander, Earl of Rocksavage and Lord Oliver, both 14, and an eight-year-old daughter named Lady Iris. Hanbury lives in the historical estate Haughton Hall in Norfolk, a mere 15-minute drive from the royal’s ancestral seat of Sandringham Castle.
Why is Rose Hanbury alleged to be involved with Kate Middleton’s disappearance?Rose Hanbury’s alleged connection to Kate Middleton’s disappearance stems from three separate controversies: a rumoured ongoing affair between the Marchioness and Prince William, reports that Hanbury is Middleton’s “rival”, and King Charles’ decision to appoint the Hanburys and their children with key roles during his coronation. Read about each event in more detail ahead.
Prince William and Rose Hanbury’s alleged affair
Flashback to 2019: Kate Middleton, then Duchess of Cambridge, was reportedly encountering a rift in her friendship with Hanbury, whom the press had dubbed her “rural rival”. Little information pertaining to the falling out was given to the public, though their relationship was so fractured that tabloids had reported Middleton’s intentions to “phase” Hanbury out as “one of the couple’s closest confidantes” and their lives altogether.
Following the initial claims, one reporter came forward to deny there was ever a feud between the two nobles. “I am told the rumours of a falling out between these two attractive young women are false,” a royal source said at the time. “I can also reveal both sides have considered legal action, but because none of the reports have been able to offer any evidence about what the so-called dispute is about, they have chosen to ignore it,” he added.
Despite the statement of denial, the situation reached a fever pitch when a British columnist infamously tweeted that Prince William was having an affair. (It was implied the mistress in question was, in fact, Hanbury.)
Middleton, Hanbury, and Prince William were only seen together once in 2016 when the royals attended a charity gala dinner at Hanbury’s estate. To some, the interactions captured by photographers summarised the situation far better than any reports can. See the photo in question below.
KING’S LYNN, ENGLAND – JUNE 22: HRH Prince William, Kate Middleton and Rose Hanbury attend a gala dinner in support of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices’ Nook appeal at Houghton Hall on June 22, 2,016 in King’s Lynn, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)Rose Hanbury, David Cholmondeley and their son Oliver are given key roles in the coronation of King Charles III
Between 2019 and now, Rose Hanbury’s name has remained relatively out of tabloids, save for a mention of her as a friend of Will and Kate and a controversy with DuexMoi in 2022. Despite previous reports of infidelity, Hanbury continued to attend major royal events, including Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and King Charles III’s coronation.
Upon the King’s ascent to the throne, he appointed the Marquess as “lord-in-waiting,” which, according to Tatler, involved invitations to “attend important state and royal occasions” and serve as a representative for the monarch. One of the Cholmondeley’s twin boys was also appointed as “page of honour” and walked alongside the future heir to the throne, 10-year-old Prince George.
Given Middleton’s recent absence from the public eye, Hanbury is again finding relevancy in the media cycle. But given that Buckingham Palace has remained relatively quiet about the unfolding theories about the princess, it’s unlikely that they’ll acknowledge any surrounding Hanbury. Nevertheless, the silence only gives room for more rumours to grow. Where official statements lack, hilarious speculative Tweets remain.
i too would do a gone girl if my bald ass husband cheated on me with someone who looked exactly like me but horsier
— youngmi mayer (@ymmayer) March 12, 2024
Every photo of Rose Hanbury looks like a deleted scene from Saltburn pic.twitter.com/Tx0Jy4l6Gq
— Heidi N. Moore (@moorehn) March 17, 2024
