As Princess Kate dominates the news cycle as continues to undergo treatment for cancer, eyes are also turning toward Kate and William’s inner circle—especially the Marchioness of Cholmondeley.
Sarah Rose Hanbury, colloquially known simply as Rose Hanbury, has long been associated with the Prince and Princess of Wales (an association that has often made her fodder for tabloid headlines and rumors, none of which neither the couple nor Hanbury have publicly addressed). She has often been photographed at events with William and Kate, and was an attendee at King Charles III’s coronation, Prince Philip’s memorial service, and Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral.
Rose’s 13-year-old son, Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, also played special role in king’s coronation, for which he served as one of the monarch’s pages of honor alongside heir to the throne Prince George.
Ahead, everything we know about Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley.
She denied affair rumors.
Unsubstantiated rumors of William engaging in an affair with Rose first emerged in 2019. Though William and the royal family have never addressed the rumors, Rose spoke out against the gossip, which has been inflamed by conspiracy theories about Kate’s absence from the public eye as she recovers from abdominal surgery. A rare statement shared to Business Insider by Rose’s lawyers on March 18, 2024 simply stated, “The rumors are completely false.”
She married David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, in 2009.
Two days after announcing their engagement, the couple wed at Chelsea Town Hall in London, according to Hello.
They live at the family’s Norfolk estate, Houghton Hall, just a few miles from William and Kate’s home at Anmer Hall.
Rose and David greet Kate and William at Houghton Hall.
She and David have three kids.
Rose and David have welcomed three children: 13-year-old twins Oliver Timothy and Alexander Hugh, and 7-year-old Iris Marina Aline.
Oliver served as one of King Charles’s pages of honor at the coronation; other pages included Prince George, Ralph Tollemache (son of the monarch’s godson, Edward Tollemache), and Nicholas Barclay.
She used to work as a model and as a researcher in Parliament.
Before getting married, Rose reportedly worked as fashion model represented by Storm Management. She also had a job as a researcher for Conservative Party MP Michael Gove.
Rose attends a party in 2004.
She is a patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices.
The marchioness is among the seven patrons of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, which provides care and support for young children faced with life-threatening diseases. Princess Kate is EACH’s royal patron.
Her grandmother was a bridesmaid at Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding.
Rose’s family has ties to the monarchy that precede her. Her maternal grandmother, Lady Elizabeth Lambart, served as one of the bridesmaids at the 1947 wedding of then-Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten.
As an associate editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com, Chelsey keeps a finger on the pulse on all things celeb news. She also writes on social movements, connecting with activists leading the fight on workers’ rights, climate justice, and more. Offline, she’s probably spending too much time on TikTok, rewatching Emma (the 2020 version, of course), or buying yet another corset.