The internet has been abuzz with rumors about an alleged affair between Prince William and Rose Hanbury since 2019. These rumors have persisted for years, causing quite a stir among royal watchers and the general public. To understand how these rumors started and evolved, here’s a detailed timeline of the events surrounding the alleged affair.
March 22, 2019: The Sun published an article claiming that Kate Middleton had a falling out with Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley. The article suggested that Kate asked Prince William to phase Rose out of their social circle, referring to Rose as Kate’s “rural rival.” This report was later deleted, but it had already sparked significant speculation.
March 24, 2019: The Daily Mail reported that Kate was furious about The Sun’s claims. Royal reporter Richard Kay stated that there was no truth to the rumors and that both parties had considered legal action. A family source also denied the rumors, saying that William and Rose’s husband, David, were in touch and that both couples had plans for future charity events.
March 26, 2019: Writer Giles Coran tweeted, “I know about the affair. Everybody knows about the affair, darling,” but quickly deleted the tweet. The Daily Beast later reported that pressure from the palace led to the tweet’s removal.
March 30, 2019: Writer Nicole Cliffe tweeted a series of personal theories about the alleged affair, suggesting that it was the source of tension between Prince William and Prince Harry. These tweets were also deleted, but not before they went viral.
April 4, 2019: American tabloid In Touch published a report alleging that Kate and Rose’s feud was due to an affair between Rose and William. The magazine claimed that Kate confronted William, who laughed off the allegations.
April 9, 2019: The Daily Beast reported that the palace had issued legal threats to publications covering the affair rumors. A letter from the palace’s lawyers stated that the rumors were false and damaging, and their publication constituted a breach of privacy.
June 3, 2019: Rose Hanbury attended a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace with her husband, while Kate and William were also present. The couples were seated at different tables, and there were no photographs of them together, which seemed like an attempt by the palace to downplay the rumors.
June 12, 2019: A source told Us Weekly that the affair rumors had ultimately strengthened Kate and William’s relationship. The insider mentioned that the rumors forced the couple to examine their relationship more closely.
January 5, 2020: Rose was spotted with Prince William and Kate Middleton, along with other royals, on a walk to church, indicating that the families were still on good terms.
March 29, 2022: Rose attended Prince Philip’s memorial service, further dispelling rumors of a rift between her and the royal family.
July 28, 2022: The hashtags #PrinceOfPegging and #PrinceWilliamAffair trended on social media, reigniting the affair rumors.
May 6, 2023: Rose was seen at King Charles’ coronation, and her son Oliver was one of Charles’ pages, highlighting her continued connection to the royal family.
August 14, 2023: The Daily Mail reported that Kate had dinner with Rose and her husband at their home, Houghton Hall, and secretly attended the Houghton Festival. A source mentioned that Kate was initially nervous about attending the festival but went with security after much discussion.
March 10, 2024: Kate posted a Mother’s Day picture without her wedding ring, prompting further speculation about her marriage. The internet quickly spiraled with theories about her absence and the state of her relationship with William.
March 11, 2024: An article about Rose Hanbury appeared in The Independent, leading to speculation that she was being “soft launched” into the public eye. Stephen Colbert also mentioned the rumors during his Late Show monologue, adding fuel to the fire.
March 13, 2024: A friend of Kate’s told the Daily Beast that the missing wedding ring in the Mother’s Day photo was Photoshopped, which only added to the speculation. A former royal courtier mentioned that the rumors were “deeply annoying and unhelpful” for the palace.
March 16, 2024: Rose Hanbury’s lawyers told Business Insider that the rumors were completely false.
March 19, 2024: Royal expert Nick Bullen told Us Weekly that Rose was very upset by the affair rumors and that there was no truth to them. He emphasized that Rose was not having an affair with Prince William.
Despite the palace’s efforts to quash these rumors, they have persisted over the years, fueled by social media and tabloid speculation. The timeline of events shows how a single report can snowball into a long-lasting controversy, affecting the lives of those involved.
Source: The Sun, Daily Mail, The Daily Beast, Us Weekly, In Touch, Business Insider, The Independent, Stephen Colbert’s Late Show
