The Marchioness of Cholmondeley, Rose Hanbury, has firmly denied rumors of an alleged affair with Prince William, as speculation about the Prince of Wales' fidelity resurfaces amid his wife, Kate Middleton's, extended absence from the public eye. The rumors, which first emerged in 2019, gained renewed attention after late-night host Stephen Colbert mentioned them in his opening monologue on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on March 12.
Hanbury's legal team swiftly responded to the allegations, telling Business Insider, "The rumors are completely false." The statement comes as internet sleuths and conspiracy theorists, dubbed "Katespiracy" theorists, speculate that the Princess of Wales' absence may be connected to the alleged affair rather than her recovery from a "planned abdominal surgery" on January 19, as stated by Kensington Palace.
The palace has maintained that Kate will return to public duties by Easter, but her 80-day absence, coupled with her recent admission to editing a Mother's Day photograph shared by Kensington Palace, has only fueled the rumor mill. The photo-editing scandal coincided with the spread of the unsubstantiated conspiracy theory linking Kate's absence to the alleged affair between William and Hanbury.
Colbert's monologue, which name-dropped Hanbury as the woman at the center of the rumor mill, stirred up more online chatter about the alleged affair. Some social media users viewed Colbert's commentary as validation of their suspicions, while others criticized the late-night host for discussing the rumors without proof and questioned whether it was his "business" to do so.
The timing of a recent article by The Independent, titled "Lady Rose Hanbury: Who is the Marchioness of Cholmondeley?", has also raised eyebrows among internet users. The article, shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, summarizes Hanbury's background and ties to the British royal family, noting her proximity to Kate and William's home in Norfolk and her attendance at several major royal events.
While rumors of an affair between Hanbury and William first surfaced in 2019, they were quickly suppressed, likely due to the royals' long-held "never complain, never explain" PR strategy. The rumor mill briefly resurfaced in July 2022 when a popular celebrity gossip Instagram account, Deux Moi, published a blind item alleging an affair involving a member of the royal family. However, the palace did not comment on the rumor, and talk about it again fell quiet.
As Kate remains out of the public eye, speculation continues to mount, with many publications publishing versions of the "Who is Rose Hanbury" article and timelines of the unsubstantiated affair rumors online. Through it all, the palace has maintained its silence, and Hanbury has denied the allegations through her legal team.
Despite the rumor mill, there has been no indication from William and Kate that they are anything but happily married. The college sweethearts, who have been married for nearly 13 years, have been spotted engaging in public displays of affection, speaking highly of each other, and presenting a united front through both highs and lows.
William has recently resumed his royal duties after taking a break to support Kate following her surgery. During his public appearances, he has made several references to his wife, expressing gratitude for the public's "kind messages" and describing Kate as "the arty one" while decorating biscuits at a youth center in London.
