Meet Lady Sarah Rose Hanbury, a British noblewoman whose family has been linked to royals for generations
Talia Lakritz,Maria Noyen
- Rose Hanbury is a British noblewoman whose family has been linked to the royals for years.
- She and her husband, David Cholmondeley, are neighbors of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Rose Hanbury recently found herself thrust into the spotlight amid continuing speculation about Kate Middleton's absence from the public eye.
A British noblewoman residing in a stately home close to Kate and Prince William's countryside residence, Hanbury is no stranger to royalty.
Here is a closer look at her aristocratic upbringing, career, relationships, and why Hanbury, who inherited the Marchioness of Cholmondeley title upon marriage, became embroiled in rumors surrounding the Princess of Wales.
Rose Hanbury's family has moved in royal circles for generations.
Hanbury's maternal grandmother, Lady Elizabeth Lambart, was a childhood friend of Queen Elizabeth's, the Daily Mail reported. She was also a bridesmaid at the Queen's wedding to Prince Phillip in 1947. In the above photo of the wedding party on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, she is the fifth bridesmaid from the left.
The Queen Mother also attended Lambart's wedding to Mark Longman in 1949.
After graduating from university, Hanbury worked as a model and political researcher.
Hanbury attended the prestigious Stowe boarding school, whose famous alumni include King Rainier of Monaco, Richard Branson, and Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsea Davy, Buckinghamshire Live reported.
Hanbury then studied at The Open University, which offers distance learning but is headquartered in Milton Keynes, England.
She signed with Storm Management, the same modeling agency that represented Kate Moss, when she was 23 years old, Tatler reported. She also worked as a researcher for British MP Michael Gove.
She's married to David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, and they have three children.
Cholmondeley — pronounced "Chumley" — is a lord-in-waiting to King Charles III, attending official functions with the monarch and occasionally representing him at events.
They have three children: Alexander Hugh George, who carries the title Earl of Rocksavage, Lord Oliver Timothy George, and Lady Iris Marina Aline.
Their son Oliver was a page of honor at Charles' coronation.
Oliver, second from the left in the above photo, helped carry the train of Charles' robe as he processed into Westminster Abbey for the coronation. He also appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside Prince George after the ceremony.
Hanbury and Cholmondeley attended the coronation, as well.
The couple owns two historic homes, but they primarily live at Houghton Hall in Norfolk.
The couple's real-estate portfolio includes two historic homes in the UK: Cholmondeley Castle, a gothic country house in Cheshire that is Grade II* listed — meaning it's been designated of special interest or national importance — and Houghton Hall, a palladian-style mansion in Norfolk. Parts of both residences are open for public visits on select days.
According to the Financial Times, Cholmondeley inherited Houghton Hall, where he and Hanbury primarily live with their children, in 1990.
Built in the 18th century, the 106-room home is filled with renowned art and artifacts. It's roughly a 10-minute drive from Anmer Hall, a country home that Queen Elizabeth II gave Kate and William after their 2011 wedding. When they aren't in Windsor, the Wales' have been known to spend time there with their children.
Her charity work includes supporting East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH), the National Gallery, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
In 2016, Hanbury and Cholmondeley hosted a fundraising gala for EACH at their Houghton Hall home, which William and Kate attended. Hanbury became a patron of EACH in 2018, Cambridge Network reported.
Kate is also a patron of the organization, occasionally visiting on royal engagements.
She and her husband have been friends with William and Kate for years.
The Cholmondeleys and the Waleses have run in similar circles for years and have even attended many of the same events. Kate and William were photographed being greeted by the Cholmondeleys as they arrived for a charity event hosted at Houghton Hall in 2016.
In 2023, the Daily Mail reported that Kate made an appearance at a music festival at Houghton Hall after attending a dinner hosted by the Cholmondeleys.
Stephen Colbert mentioned Hanbury on his late-night talk show while discussing Kate's absence from the public eye.
Kate underwent a "planned abdominal surgery" in January, after which Kensington Palace said she would be taking time away from royal duties to recover and would be expected to resume work after Easter. However, in the weeks since, the internet exploded with "Katespiracy," unsupported rumors about Kate's condition and whereabouts.
On March 13, Colbert waded into the ongoing discourse around Kate's absence from the public eye and mentioned Hanbury during his opening monologue on "The Late Show." He referenced unverified rumors from "internet sleuths" that Prince William had an affair with Hanbury.
Hanbury's lawyers told BI that "the rumours are completely false." Kensington Palace declined to comment.
The couple, who have been together for nearly 13 years, haven't indicated their marriage is in trouble. William took a break from royal duties following Kate's surgery to support her and has referenced her during several recent appearances, including at a conference on homelessness on Tuesday, the Daily Mail reported.
While discussing children, an area that Kate's work focuses on, William said, "Venturing into my wife's territory here. She needs to be sat here to hear this."
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