Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, has been spotted in public with her husband, David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, for the first time since rumors of her alleged affair with Prince William resurfaced. The couple attended a service of dedication for the Order of The British Empire at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on May 15, presenting a united front amidst ongoing speculation.
A Stylish Appearance Amid Controversy
Rose, 40, looked impeccably stylish, wearing a black hat, a matching jacket, and a black and pink patterned skirt. Despite her serious expression, her husband David, 63, appeared in high spirits, smiling throughout the outing. Their appearance together comes just two months after rumors of Rose’s alleged affair with Prince William, 41, gained new traction.
The Spark of Rumors
The affair rumors initially surfaced in 2019, but they recently regained attention following a comment by Stephen Colbert on “The Late Show.” On March 12, Colbert said, “I’m afraid I’ve got some troubling news about England’s royal family. 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 continued, suggesting that Rose Hanbury was the woman involved in the rumored affair. “Now there have been rumors of an affair between William and [Rose] since 2019. According to tabloids, back then, when Kate supposedly confronted him about it, he ‘laughed it off, saying there was nothing to it,’” Colbert told his audience. “Aha, always a good response when your wife accuses you of cheating.”
Legal Rebuttal and Clarification
Following Colbert’s joke and the ensuing media frenzy, Rose Hanbury’s legal team issued a statement to In Touch, denying the allegations. “The rumor appears to have entered into the mainstream media recently as a result of another joke made about it on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” the attorneys said on March 21. “We have written on our client’s behalf to CBS and various other reputable media organizations to confirm that the allegation is false.”
The Real Reason Behind Kate’s Absence
Adding another layer to the situation, it was revealed that Princess Kate Middleton, 42, had been keeping a low profile due to a health issue. Kate announced in a heartfelt video on March 22 that she had been recovering from major abdominal surgery and was diagnosed with cancer.
“I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery. It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful,” she explained. “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. 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.”
Colbert’s Apology
Following Kate’s revelation, Stephen Colbert issued an apology on the March 25 episode of his talk show for making light of the situation. “There’s a standard that I try to hold myself to, and that is I not make light of somebody else’s tragedy,” he said. “Far too many of us know that any cancer diagnosis of any kind is harrowing for the patient and for their family.”
He continued, “Though I’m sure they don’t need it from me, I and everyone here at The Late Show, would like to extend our well wishes and heartfelt hope that her recovery is swift and thorough.”
Moving Forward
As Rose Hanbury and David Cholmondeley navigate the renewed public scrutiny, their recent appearance together suggests a commitment to maintaining a united front. Meanwhile, the royal family continues to support Princess Kate through her health challenges, highlighting the resilience and solidarity within the monarchy during difficult times.
