Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, has finally addressed the long-standing rumors alleging an affair between her and Prince William, firmly denying the claims and expressing her distress over the persistent speculation. In a recent statement provided through her lawyers to Business Insider, Hanbury asserted that "the rumors are completely false," marking the first time she has publicly commented on the matter since the allegations first emerged in 2019.
The resurfaced affair rumors have been a source of frustration for both the royal family and the Cholmondeleys, who have been friends and neighbors for years. Royal expert Nick Bullen, founder of True Royalty TV, told Us Weekly, "I know people who know the Marchioness of Cholmondeley very, very well, and she absolutely was not having an affair with the Prince of Wales. Even when those rumors broke a few years ago, she was very upset by them then. She's still very upset by them now."
The allegations gained renewed attention after comedian Stephen Colbert alluded to Hanbury being Prince William's girlfriend during a monologue on his late-night show, "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," on March 12. Colbert referenced the rumors while discussing Kate Middleton's recent absence from public life following her abdominal surgery in January.
"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 said. "I think we all know who the alleged other woman is, say it with me, The Marchioness of Cholmondeley."
So, due to the #KateGate / #WhereIsKate missing Kate Middleton / Princess of Wales #Katespiracy drama, lots of people around the world have increased interest in Rose Hanbury and her mysterious connection to Prince William.
Unfortunately, people in China looked a little too… pic.twitter.com/sGTfoIzkro — Grannybelly (@sugabelly) March 19, 2024
In response to Colbert's comments, Hanbury's legal team swiftly shut down the claims, telling an outlet, "The rumors are completely false."
When the affair rumors first surfaced in 2019, they were met with strong denials from both the royal family and the Cholmondeleys. At the time, a family source told the Daily Mail that "these hurtful rumors of a fallout are simply false," adding that Prince William and David Cholmondeley, Rose's husband, "were in touch with each other over the weekend, not knowing whether to laugh or complain."
The source also emphasized that both wives, Kate Middleton and Rose Hanbury, were "hurt by the suggestion that there is any argument or even a coolness between them," and that they had plans for future events involving their charity work together.
Despite the denials, the rumors have persisted, causing distress for all parties involved. A source close to Kate Middleton told a publication, "Kate finds the rumors hurtful, obviously, and hates the thought that one day her children will be able to read about them online."
The resurgence of the affair allegations has also led to speculation about the state of Prince William and Kate Middleton's marriage, particularly after the Duchess of Cambridge was seen without her wedding ring in a recent Instagram post following her surgery. However, royal experts and sources close to the family have dismissed these concerns, attributing the absence of the ring to the nature of the photo and the context of her recovery.
