Rose Hanbury breaks years-long silence on affair rumors with Prince William
Royalty member Rose Hanbury has finally broken her years-long silence on accusations that she had an affair with Prince William.
Business Insider reported that Hanbury, through her lawyers, told the publication that the accusations “are completely false.”
It’s the first time that the Marchioness of Cholmondeley addressed the claims, which have been tabloid fodder since 2019 and have resurfaced over the past few weeks after comedian Stephen Colbert joked about William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, on his The Late Show.
Kensington Palace, meanwhile, declined to comment on the issue, according to Business Insider.
Last January, the Kensington Palace announced that Kate would take a break from public duties following her abdominal surgery. She hasn’t appeared in a public event since December.
Several internet users came up with conspiracy theories on Kate’s whereabouts—and other reasons for her hiatus.
According to Colbert, internet sleuths are guessing that Kate's absence may be related to William’s rumored affair.
Tabloids, including American publication In Touch, reported about William's alleged affair in 2019 and how the prince supposedly laughed it off when Kate confronted him.
Hanbury—a former model and researcher for Conservative Parliament Member Michael Gove—is the wife of William’s close friend, David Rocksavage, a 63-year-old filmmaker and the seventh Marquess of Cholmondeley.
Hanbury and Rocksavage got married in 2009 and have since welcomed three children: twins Oliver and Alexander and daughter Iris.
They live at Norfolk county's Palladian Houghton Hall, which is near Kate and William's country home Anmer Hall.
Hanbury and Rocksavage are known to be friends with Kate and William even after the reported feud.
But at the height of the affair speculations, there were claims that there had been a “falling out” between Kate and Hanbury, though they have not been verified.