The marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Prince and Princess of Wales, has come under scrutiny in recent weeks as rumors of a potential crisis in their relationship have resurfaced. The speculation comes amid Kate's prolonged absence from the public eye following an abdominal surgery in January and the reemergence of allegations that Prince William had an affair with Kate's friend, Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley.
Sources close to the royal couple have suggested that the marriage may be in trouble, as reported by In Touch, with one insider claiming, "There's fear that William and Kate's marriage is in crisis. Kate has gone so far as to take her ring off. It's all anyone can talk about, and it has palace insiders openly pondering the unthinkable - that the marriage may be over."
Business Times can't independently verify this claim, but previously reported that Kate requested privacy and space amid her treatment in a video message, stating "for now, I must focus on making a full recovery." She also revealed her current health conditions, "My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of that treatment."
The rumors of an affair between Prince William and Rose Hanbury first surfaced in 2019, described as an "open secret" in British aristocratic circles. Despite William's attorney denying the allegations at the time, the rumors have persisted. Rose Hanbury has continued to attend official events, including Queen Elizabeth's funeral and King Charles' coronation, due to her husband's connection to the royal family.
Kate Middleton, 42, has been noticeably absent from the spotlight since her surgery in January. Her recent appearances, including blurry photos of her riding in cars and a photoshopped portrait with her children, have only fueled the speculation surrounding her disappearance. "Everything from botched plastic surgery to the deployment of secret body doubles has been mentioned as the mystery surrounding her disappearance escalates," a source revealed.
The timing of the renewed cheating rumors has been particularly difficult for the Princess of Wales, as she is said to be at her "most vulnerable" during her recovery. "Of course they've been through all of this before, but Kate is at her most vulnerable right now, so it's especially humiliating for her to have the talk of infidelity come back to haunt her," the insider shared.
Despite the rumors, some royal experts have come to the couple's defense. True Royalty TV founder Nick Bullen, who knows the Marchioness of Cholmondeley well, told Us Weekly, "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 speculation surrounding the royal couple's marriage comes at a challenging time for the royal family, with Prince Andrew's fall from grace and King Charles' battle with cancer. A source noted, "Between Prince Andrew's fall from grace and Charles' battle with cancer, the royal family seems to be falling apart."
If the worst were to happen and the couple decided to divorce, it would be a historic action that would likely require discussion with the king, given the protocol surrounding heirs to the throne. The source added, "And the royal family would take a major hit. Like Diana, Kate is their shining star, and the public most likely would be on her side."
The couple's children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, would be a primary concern in the event of a divorce. "If the worst happened, she'd make sure to protect them - and her title," the source said, noting that Kate would likely be entitled to half of William's $100 million fortune under U.K. law.
Despite the ongoing speculation, the palace is said to be working hard to keep the marriage together. "The palace and William will do everything in their power to fight to keep this marriage together," the source concluded. "The speculation alone has been a nightmare."
