Who is Lady Rose Hanbury? Everything to know about the woman entangled in Prince William affair rumors
Rumors of Lady Rose Hanbury’s alleged affair with Prince William have resurfaced as people question Kate Middleton’s whereabouts after last being seen in public in December 2023.
In January 2024, Kensington Palace announced that the Princess of Wales would be undergoing abdominal surgery and would not be seen in public until Easter.
However, her disappearance became a hot topic when she posted an “altered” photo of herself with her three children in honor of Mother’s Day, which was celebrated March 10 in the UK.
After the royal family faced mounting backlash due to the heavily edited picture, the mom of three released an apology, admitting that she was behind the botched image.
And while the princess still hasn’t been publicly seen — aside from a few grainy photos of her riding in the car — rumors about the Prince of Wales’ alleged affair with Hanbury have started surfacing once again.
Find out more about the woman involved in #KateGate below.
Who is Rose Hanbury and what is her title?
Rose was born on March 15, 1984, and is the daughter of Timothy Hanbury, a website designer, and Emma Hanbury, a fashion designer.
Rose’s mom is the granddaughter of Lady Elizabeth Longman, who had a close relationship with Queen Elizabeth II.
Longman was even a bridesmaid in the late queen’s 1947 wedding to Prince Philip.
Rose previously worked as a fashion model, signing with the Storm agency when she was only 23.
She also briefly worked as a researcher for Conservative politician Michael Gove.
What is Rose Hanbury’s relationship with Prince William and what are the allegations?
Rose was close friends with both Wiliam and Middleton, even attending their 2011 wedding before affair rumors between her and the prince surfaced in 2019.
In Touch reported that William allegedly cheated with Rose while Middleton was pregnant with their third child, Louis.
Then in 2022, gossip site Deuxmoi posted a tip that claimed a British royal couple’s “extramarital affair is an open secret,” per a screenshot shared by Cosmopolitan.
Though the tip didn’t disclose the name of the royal in question, fans speculated that it was the future heir to the throne.
The alleged entanglement was also briefly talked about in Omid Scobie’s latest, book, “Endgame,” even though the British journalist said he thought it was merely just a rumor.
Comedian Stephen Colbert also trolled William about the affair rumors.
“The kingdom has been all aflutter by the seeming disappearance of Kate Middleton. Well now, internet sleuths are guessing that Kate’s absence may be related to her husband and the future king of England William having an affair,” he said on a March 2024 episode of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.”
Neither Rose nor William have publicly addressed the rumors, but the future king’s attorney told the Daily Beast in 2019 that the claims were “false and highly damaging.”
More must-see royals coverage:
- How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met
- Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship timeline
- Royal family tree and line of succession
Is Rose Hanbury married? Does she have any children?
In June 2009, Rose married David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, at Chelsea Town Hall in London — two days after their engagement was announced.
They have since welcomed three children: twin boys Alexander Hugh George Cholmondeley, Earl of Rocksavage, and Lord Oliver Timothy George Cholmondeley, in October 2009, and daughter Lady Iris Marina Aline Cholmondeley in March 2016.
The family resides at their Norfolk estate, Houghton Hall, which is not far from William and Middleton’s estate, Anmer Hall.
