Britain's royal household faced renewed scrutiny this week as allegations resurfaced about the strain that long-running affair rumors have placed on the Prince and Princess of Wales, prompting reports that Princess Catherine acted decisively to protect her family's private life. The claims, circulated through RadarOnline.com and amplified online, center on Catherine's response to speculation involving Prince William and Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley.
The controversy re-entered public view after a royal insider alleged that the Princess "demanded" that Hanbury be removed from the couple's social circle-a significant claim in a family known for tight-lipped discipline. The report said Catherine insisted that Hanbury be "phased out" of their Norfolk social set, a reaction the insider linked directly to renewed talk surrounding the Prince William affair narrative.
The allegations trace back to 2019, when gossip pages first circulated rumors of an inappropriate relationship between William and Hanbury. Buckingham Palace did not comment at the time, yet the speculation persisted. One insider cited by RadarOnline.com said, "Kate was devastated by the rumours of the affair," adding that the episode pushed the couple to seek counseling. The same source said that "since the rumours of the affair surfaced back in 2019, Kate and William have been through counselling and, although their marriage can be rocky at times, it's safe to say that they won't split anytime soon."
Public appearances in the years since have been shaped by careful choreography, and the Princess's measured return to royal duties following her 2024 cancer diagnosis has only intensified public attention. Although the Waleses have projected unity through official engagements, the insider account suggests that the private fallout from the rumors was consequential. Catherine and Hanbury, once photographed together frequently at Norfolk events, have not appeared publicly in one another's company since the alleged rift.
Hanbury's attendance at King Charles III's coronation in May 2023 underscored her family's enduring institutional ties. Her marriage to David Rocksavage, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, positions her household close to the monarchy, and her grandmother served as a bridesmaid to Queen Elizabeth II. Through legal counsel, Hanbury has rejected the allegations outright, deeming the claims "completely false."
The narrative gained new traction in 2022 when anonymous messages on the celebrity-gossip account @DeuxMoi reignited the affair storyline. A viral post describing a royal "open secret" triggered speculation that linked the blind item to earlier claims involving the Marchioness. The online conversation soon spilled into tabloids, with the hashtag #PrinceOfPegging surging across social media platforms, despite no corroboration or naming of individuals in the original post.
Royal experts note that the current surge of interest comes during a period of extraordinary public pressure for the Wales family. The Princess's health challenges, the late Queen's death, and ongoing tensions with Prince Harry have intensified global scrutiny of the heir's household. Against that backdrop, even unverified allegations have found fertile ground.
The Palace has issued no new statements regarding the rumors or the reported social distancing from Hanbury.
