At the time, the Daily Mail royal expert Richard Kay decided to speak out on the rumors, saying it was all fake news.
“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… These hurtful rumors of a fallout are simply false,” Kay wrote.
The gossip spread like wildfire, and the same year, in 2019, the Daily Mail reported that Kate would “phase out” Rose Hanbury from their friend’s group. It didn’t exactly help that Rose lived nearby to William and Kate, had the same social circle, and even had houses in Norfolk close to each other.
William and Kate’s summer house in Anmer Hall isn’t far from where Rose and her husband live, Houghton Hall, which reportedly has 106 rooms.
So, who is Rose Hanbury?
According to Tatler, Rose’s connections to the royal family go way back. Hanbury’s maternal grandmother, Lady Elizabeth Lambert, was one of Queen Elizabeth’s eight bridesmaids at her 1947 wedding to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
This is Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley
While it took a few years before Rose Hanbury became a close friend of a royal, she and Kate go way back. Tatler reported that William, Kate, Rose, and Rose’s husband David, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, double-dated. Moreover, she and Kate are patrons of the East Anglia Children’s Hospice.
Rose Hanbury attended the prestigious Stowe boarding school before pursuing an Open University Degree. For a short time, she worked as a model. At 23, she was signed to modeling agency Storm, the same agency that discovered Kate Moss.
However, she soon changed her profession, working as a political researcher for the Conservative MP Michael Gove.
As mentioned, Rose and Kate double-dated with their former boyfriends – who have now become their husbands. Rose and David met during a holiday in 2003, and six years later, the couple tied the knot at Chelsea Town Hall.
The couple have welcomed three children. Twin brothers Alexander, the Earl of Rocksavage, and Lord Oliver Cholmondeley were born in 2009, and their daughter, Lady Iris, in 2016.
It’s been reported that the two young boys are playmates of Prince George – and Lord Oliver was actually one of King Charles’ Pages of Honor at the coronation in May.
Over the years, Rose Hanbury has been seen close to the royals several times. In 2017, at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, Rose sat next to Prince Harry. Not long ago, her husband was appointed Lord-in-Waiting to King Charles, which is simply another name for someone from a noble family who serves as a personal attendant in the household of the monarch.
“Hurtful” affair rumors “are simply false,” insider said
The 2019 rumors about an affair between William and Rose truly shocked royal fans. At the time, according to a Daily Mail source, William, David, Kate, and Rose were left baffled by the claims.
“These hurtful rumours of a fallout are simply false. William and David were in touch with each other over the weekend, not knowing whether to laugh or complain,” the insider said.
“Both wives are hurt by the suggestion that there is any argument or even a coolness between them. They have plans for future events involving their charity.”
As reported by The Mirror, another friend said at the time: “It has now become very upsetting, and they are all concerned for each other, as they have never before had to start denying something for which there is no evidence or even a smidgen of truth. It is just mad.”
There has been no confirmation of the rumors even being one percent true. Most likely, as there’s no evidence, it never happened. Another reason why it seems like there is no bad blood between Kate and Rose Hanbury was disclosed some months ago when it became known that the longtime friends had been to a music festival together.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Kate brought her friends with her to the Houghton Music Festival, located in the Norfolk countryside. The festival, a 24-hour nonstop event with a royal guest among the 12,000 people in attendance, is held at the 1000-acre Houghton Hall estate, owned by David and Rose.
Kate & Rose Hanbury attend music festival
Kate reportedly had dinner at David and Rose’s home when she first considered attending the festival.
“Catherine was nervous about the idea, but after much discussion with her protection officers, she went with lots of security. William wasn’t there,” a source told the Daily Mail.
The princess and her pals attended the major music event, enjoying a well-deserved rest from the stressful big city life. That being said, they did not visit the food trucks for a quick bite.
The London Evening Standard reported that Kate and her friends instead ate at the festival restaurant, Turntable & Napkin. Kate was, according to the news outlet’s source, “in high spirits, ordering spicy margaritas, eating affogato and speaking affably with the other members of her party.”
“Her companions apparently carted in a huge, balthazar-sized bottle of AIX rosé and, together with Kate, left the festival restaurant staff a £700 tip.”
If you enjoyed this article, perhaps you’d be interested in reading about Kate’s ex-boyfriend who reportedly broke her heart.
The somewhat cruel rumors about William and Rose Hanbury’s alleged affair seem to have been taken out of nowhere and have never been confirmed. And hopefully, the two couples – and their children – will have many happy moments together in the future.
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