Late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert has reignited speculation surrounding the alleged affair between Prince William and Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, amid Princess Kate's recent absence from the public eye. On the Tuesday, March 12 episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, the comedian addressed the rumors head-on, citing "troubling news" about the British royal family.
"Internet sleuths are guessing that Kate's absence may be related to her husband, and the future King of England, William, having an affair," Colbert, 59, said during the show. "I think we all know who the alleged other woman is, say it with me, The Marchioness of Cholmondeley."
Colbert went on to explain that rumors of an affair between Prince William, 41, and Hanbury, 39, have been circulating since 2019, when tabloids reported that Kate, 42, had confronted her husband about the alleged infidelity. "According to tabloids, back then, when Kate supposedly confronted him about it, he 'laughed it off, saying there was nothing to it,'" Colbert quipped. "Aha, always a good response when your wife accuses you of cheating."
The late-night host also noted that Hanbury is "an old friend of the royals" and is married to David Rocksavage, "a close friend of William's." Colbert couldn't resist poking fun at Rocksavage's name, saying, "Really? Rocksavage? That sounds less like a British noble and more like a musician from the Flintstones."
The affair rumors first emerged in 2019 after multiple outlets reported that Kate and Hanbury had a falling out over the alleged scandal. Kensington Palace never commented on the speculation, but a Middleton family friend exclusively told Us Weekly in June 2019 that "Kate finds the rumors hurtful, obviously, and hates the thought that one day her children will be able to read about them online."
"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." Daily Mail's royal reporter Richard Kay claimed in 2019.
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visit an Army Canine Centre, where Britain provides support to a programme that trains dogs to identify explosive devices, in Islamabad, Pakistan October 18, 2019.
The rumors were also briefly mentioned in Omid Scobie's November 2023 tell-all book, Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival, in which Scobie alleged that William and Kate have since distanced themselves from Hanbury after the affair speculation. Scobie, 42, told Entertainment Tonight the same month that because William and Kate "never addressed it" themselves, the rumors would likely "never go away," but added, "There's no truth to suggest that they are true."
The resurgence of the affair rumors comes amid Kate's recent absence from the public eye. In January, Kensington Palace announced that the Princess of Wales had undergone a "planned" abdominal surgery and would not return to any royal engagements until after Easter. Kate's limited public appearances since the surgery, coupled with her digitally altered Mother's Day portrait, have fueled speculation and conspiracy theories about her well-being and the state of her marriage to Prince William.
Rose Hanbury pic.twitter.com/vORYIj7xki — Lesli Rogers (@LesliRogers11) March 13, 2024
A source told Us Weekly in the latest issue that "this has been a stressful time for William and Kate, but they're made of tough stuff and are weathering through." The source added that Kate is "trying not to pay attention to all the rumors and gossip, and William is doing his best to shield her, but it's distressing."
As the internet continues to buzz with unsubstantiated rumors about the royal couple, it remains to be seen whether Kensington Palace will address the speculation directly or maintain their silence on the matter. For now, the focus remains on Princess Kate's recovery and her eventual return to public life, as the world eagerly awaits her next appearance.
Cosmopolitan also contributed to this report.
