The long-standing rumors of an affair between Prince William and Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, have resurfaced in the mainstream media following a monologue by U.S. television host Stephen Colbert. The widespread coverage comes amidst a growing PR crisis for Kensington Palace, stemming from Kate Middleton's prolonged absence from public life and the recent controversy surrounding an edited family photograph.
On Wednesday's episode of The Late Show, Colbert joked about the alleged affair, stating, "Internet sleuths are guessing that Kate's absence may be related to her husband and the future king of England, William, having an affair." The comedian's remarks were subsequently reported by major news outlets, including The Guardian, the New York Post, ET, Cosmopolitan, TMZ, and OK! magazine.
The affair rumors first emerged in 2019 when The Sun reported that Kate had fallen out with a rural neighbor, believed to be Rose Hanbury. Days later, gossip magazine In Touch circulated a more detailed rumor, which the palace denied, calling it "totally wrong and false," according to The Daily Beast.
Despite the lack of evidence to support the claims, the rumors have persisted on social media, with a viral Instagram post in the summer of 2022 further fueling speculation. Mainstream British media and many U.S. outlets have largely avoided the gossip out of respect for the palace's denials, sacrificing potential traffic and revenue in the process.
However, the recent coverage by The Guardian, a respected news brand, has lent credibility to the rumors, signaling a potential shift in how journalists perceive and fear the palace compared to 2019. The situation has been exacerbated by the release of a doctored photo of Kate on March 10, which has raised questions about the trustworthiness of Kensington Palace as a source.
Phil Chetwynd, global news director of Agence France-Presse, told the Media Show on BBC Radio 4, "No, absolutely not. Like with anything, when you're let down by a source the bar is raised. We sent out notes to all our teams at the moment to be absolutely super more vigilant about the content coming across our desk, even from what we would call trusted sources."
As the conspiracy theories continue to spread on social media, the palace, Kate, and William find themselves in the midst of a major crisis that appears to be growing rather than shrinking. The public, armed with social media, has dissected every detail of the situation, with some users even claiming that Prince William and Rose Hanbury have a daughter together.
Despite the online frenzy, the royal family has remained silent on the matter, with neither Prince William, Kate Middleton, nor Rose Hanbury addressing the rumors publicly. This lack of official comment has only heightened the intrigue, with some believing the silence speaks volumes, while others, like royal biographer Omid Scobie, suggest it's a dangerous tactic.
"Unfortunately, if a rumour's left to kind of do its own thing, it can run 20 laps around the world before you even think about what, how you want to kind of address it," Scobie told The Entertainment Tonight.
The recent absence of Kate Middleton from public life, coupled with the edited family photograph released on Mother's Day, has only served to reignite the rumors surrounding Prince William and Rose Hanbury. The palace's attempt to quell speculation backfired when it was revealed that the image had been edited, further eroding public trust and leading some to question the reason behind Kate's absence.
As the royal family maintains its silence on the matter, the rumors continue to swirl, with the public eagerly awaiting any official comment or explanation. The situation has become increasingly complex, with the palace's credibility as a trusted source now in question, and the future of the monarchy's public image hanging in the balance.
NY Post and Newsweek also contributed to this report.
