Look inside Houghton Hall, Rose Hanbury and David Cholmondeley's Norfolk estate down the road from Prince William and Kate Middleton

Talia LakritzMar 28, 2024, 16:53 IST

The Yellow Drawing Room in Houghton Hall.Derry Moore

Rose Hanbury and David Cholmondeley live at Houghton Hall in Norfolk.
Built in the 1720s, the 106-room estate is close to Prince William and Kate Middleton's home.

Houghton Hall in Norfolk, England, is home to David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, and his wife, Lady Sarah Rose Hanbury.

Amid swirling "Katespiracy" rumors about Kate and William's marriage and Kate's monthslong absence from public appearances, Cholmondeley and Hanbury became the subject of increased public interest in recent weeks due to their friendship with the royal couple.

Kate announced on March 22 that she was diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing preventive chemotherapy.

Take a look inside the historic estate, which has been a center of arts and culture for centuries.

Houghton Hall was built in the 1720s for Sir Robert Walpole, the first prime minister of Britain.

Houghton Hall was built in the 1720s.Angelo Hornak/Corbis via Getty Images

Walpole's great-grandson, the 1st Marquess of Cholmondeley, inherited the estate in the late 1700s, according to Houghton Hall's official website.

George Cholmondeley, the 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley, and his wife, socialite and Rothschild heiress Sybil Sassoon, refurbished the home when they received it as a wedding present in 1913, Vanity Fair reported. They added electricity, plumbing, and an intercom system and furnished the space with art from their extensive family collections.

Walpole's great-grandson, the 1st Marquess of Cholmondeley, inherited the estate in the late 1700s, according to Houghton Hall's official website.

David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, took ownership of Houghton Hall in 1990.

David Cholmondeley and Rose Hanbury at Houghton Hall.Derry Moore

In 2009, Cholmondeley married Rose Hanbury, who became the 7th Marchioness of Cholmondeley. That same year, they moved into Houghton Hall shortly after the birth of their twins, Alexander and Oliver. They also welcomed a daughter, Iris, in 2016.

In 2014, Cholmondeley co-authored a book with Andrew Moore about Houghton Hall with photography by Derry Moore.

The Yellow Drawing Room in Houghton Hall.Derry Moore

"Houghton Hall: Portrait of an English Country House" provided a rare glimpse into the estate's State Rooms and vast art collection.

Houghton Hall: Portrait of an English Country House provided a rare glimpse into the estate's State Rooms and vast art collection.

Built in the Anglo-Palladian architectural style, Houghton Hall is adorned with classical elements such as columns, pillars, and Roman statues.

A State Room at Houghton Hall.Derry Moore

The ornate State Rooms, which Walpole used to entertain high-profile guests, feature painted ceilings, lush tapestries, and gilded furniture.

The 28,000-square-foot estate features 106 rooms full of priceless art pieces and antique furniture, such as the White Drawing Room.

The White Drawing Room at Houghton Hall.Derry Moore

The White Drawing Room was redecorated with green velvet and art from Walpole's collection in 2013.

Houghton Hall's Great Staircase is decorated with an ornate chandelier, detailed molding, and a bronze copy of an ancient statue.

The Grand Staircase at Houghton Hall.Derry Moore

A bronze copy of a statue known as the "Borghese Gladiator," which was originally created by Agasias of Ephesus in 100 BC, is displayed at the bottom of the stairs, according to the Royal Academy.

A bronze copy of a statue known as the Borghese Gladiator, which was originally created by Agasias of Ephesus in 100 BC, is displayed at the bottom of the stairs, according to the Royal Academy.

The Green Velvet Bedroom features a bed with a shell headboard referencing Venus, the Roman goddess of love.

The Green Velvet Bedroom in Houghton Hall.Derry Moore

The giant velvet bed dates back to 1733, Cholmondeley and Moore wrote in "Houghton Hall."

Prince William and Kate Middleton live down the road at Anmer Hall in Norfolk.

Prince William and Kate Middleton walk with David Cholmondeley and Rose Hanbury at a 2016 gala at Houghton Hall.Stephen Pond/Getty Images

Houghton Hall is located 4 miles from Anmer Hall, a country home that Queen Elizabeth II gifted to William and Kate as a wedding present in 2011.

Sandringham Estate, where the royal family spends every Christmas, is also 7 miles away.

Cholmondeley and Hanbury's connections to the royal family run deep. Hanbury's grandmother was a bridesmaid at Queen Elizabeth II's wedding, Cholmondeley serves as King Charles III's lord-in-waiting, and their son Oliver was a page of honor at Charles' coronation.

Houghton Hall is located 4 miles from Anmer Hall, a country home that Queen Elizabeth II gifted to William and Kate as a wedding present in 2011.

Sandringham Estate, where the royal family spends every Christmas, is also 7 miles away.

Cholmondeley and Hanbury host a variety of events and art installations at Houghton Hall.

Attendees at a charity gala supporting East Anglia's Children's Hospices listen to a speech at Houghton Hall in 2016.Stephen Pond/Getty Images

In 2016, they hosted a gala supporting East Anglia's Children's Hospices attended by William and Kate. Both Hanbury and Kate are patrons of the charity.

In 2020, artist Anish Kapoor displayed a collection of outdoor sculptures throughout the estate's gardens.

Artist Anish Kapoor at Houghton Hall ahead of the opening of his largest UK exhibition of outdoor sculptures in 2020.Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images

Kapoor, perhaps best known as the creator of the bean-shaped "Cloud Gate" sculpture in downtown Chicago, exhibited 24 sculptures at Houghton Hall.

In 2023, Houghton Hall hosted sculptures, paintings, and sketches by Sean Scully.

A hallway inside Houghton Hall with artwork by Sean Scully in 2023.Pete Huggins

"Scully's paintings and sculptures often evoke landscape and architecture, and will look sensational against the backdrop of the house," Cholmondeley said in a 2023 press release.

Scully's paintings and sculptures often evoke landscape and architecture, and will look sensational against the backdrop of the house, Cholmondeley said in a 2023 press release.

The estate's Stone Hall featured a sculpture made of stacked Murano glass.

"Venice Stack" by Sean Scully inside Houghton Hall in 2023.Pete Huggins

Titled "Venice Stack," the colorful piece stood out amid the room's beige detailing.

Houghton Hall is open to visitors on select days from April through October.

A wide view of Houghton Hall.Derry Moore

Tickets for a full tour of the house and grounds cost £24 per adult. More information about visiting Houghton Hall is available on the estate's official website.

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