Everything to Know About Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley

Chances are, if you’ve been glued to all of the royal drama over the past few years, the name Rose Hanbury is probably very familiar to you. Also known by her married name Marchioness Rose Cholmondeley, Rose is the woman that’s been linked to those infamous (and debunked!) cheating rumors with Prince William.

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend a ceremonial welcome for The President and the First Lady of the Republic of Korea at Horse Guards Parade on November 21, 2023 in London, England.

For those that don’t know, Kate Middleton and Rose Hanbury were considered best friends for years. However, after news came in that the two mysteriously drifted from one another, many were scratching their heads. Over the past couple of years, cheating rumors have swirled around William and Rose due to different reports, living only a few blocks away from each other, and the fact that the two couples have appeared in public together a few times.

The Palace has denied these rumors but they keep swirling back. However, the royal family’s continued relationship with Hanbury, and the fact that her son son Oliver played a prominent role in King Charles’ coronation ceremony in 2023, prove that the rumors have been put to rest.

In April 2023, however, sources told Us Weekly that the affair rumors only strengthened Middleton and William’s connection. “It forced [Middleton] and William to sit back and examine their relationship, which they realized they should have been doing more often,” the source said. “They’re still going strong,” another source added. “Regardless of their ups and downs, they love each other dearly and their kids are the most important thing in their lives.”

Regardless of the rumors, Rose reportedly continues to be a prominent member of the Cambridge’s inner circle.

Who is Rose Hanbury?

While she’s a rather private person, we’ve gathered quite a bit of information on her. See everything we know about the private Marchioness below:

A version of this article was originally published on April 2023.

Rose Isn’t Her First Name
Her full legal name is Sarah Rose Cholmondeley (née Hanbury), but everyone calls her Rose.
Her Parents Are Very Creative
Her parents are named Timothy Hanbury and Emma Hanbury (née Longman). Her father works as a website designer, while her mother reportdly works as a fashion designer!
She Has a Sister Named Marina Hanbury
Rose Hanbury has a sister named Marina Hanbury, who was also briefly a model and married into the peerage with Edward Lambton, 7th Earl of Durham. Like her sister, she has an over 20-year age gap with her partner and has multiple children with them.
She’s a Pisces
Marchioness Rose Hanbury (also known by her married name Rose Cholmondeley) was born on March 15th, 1984, making her a Pisces. For our astrology buff readers, this gives some insight into what her personality may be like. Many Pisces are known for being sensitive, inquisitive, intelligent, and creative.
She Has a Prestigious Educational Background
For Rose’s education, she attended the extremely prestigious Stowe School throughout her formative years, and later attended The Open University in England. While it’s not public knowledge what degree she sought, many believe she pursued something in politics, due to her later career choices, per Tatler.
She Was a Model for Years
Before Rose was all about the firm, she was actually discovered at age 23 by the Storm Agency. (If that sounds familiar to you, it’s because that’s the agency Kate Moss was under!) She modeled for a few years, posing in campaigns for Miu Miu, Poplin London, a shoot for Love Magazine, and more.
She’s Dabbled in Politics
Remember how we mentioned politics? Well, after modeling, Rose became a researcher for the Conservative Member of Parliament, Michael Gove, who was serving as the Shadow Education Secretary at the time. However, she had to quit her job soon after starting due to severe morning sickness.
She & Her Husband Have a 23-Year Age Gap
So who is Rose’s husband? His name is David Rocksavage, also known as David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley. Per the List, the pair met back in 2003 at a party hosted at the Villa Cetinale, but the two didn’t start dating until 2006. Despite their 23-year age difference, the pair seemed so in love! In fact, their engagement is something of a whirlwind. In 2009, they announced their engagement in June, and the next day, they announced they were pregnant. And then the day after that, on June 24, they wed at Chelsea Town Hall, per Hello. Nearly 14 years later, and the pair still seem so in love.
She is a Mother of Three
Rose and David share three children together: twins Earl of Rocksavage Alexander Hugh George and Lord Oliver Timothy George, born on Oct 12, 2009, and Lady Iris Marina Aline, born March 2016.
She Recently Worked in Interior Design
On May 4, 2022, Rose revealed she’s dabbled in design! On the shared Instagram page @houghton_hall, it was shown that Rose and Martina Mondadori collaborated with a popular interior design company called Cabana. They created a collection “inspired by the extraordinary interiors of this fine Palladian house,” and it seemed like a big hit!
She’s Worked Extensively With Charities
Along with being involved in politics and modeling, Rose has played a major hand in charity work. She continues to actively work in charitable organizations, with the most well-known one being East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). If that sounds familiar, it’s because Kate Middleton is a royal patron of that organization, per List.
She Resides at Houghton Hall
Per their official website, Houghton Hall is currently the home of the Marquess of Cholmondeley and Rose Hanbury. It’s an incredibly lavish home, as you can tell from the pictures, and her husband is “a direct descendant of Sir Robert Walpole who built the hall in the 1720s.”
She Had an ‘Erotic, Exotic and Eccentric’ Upbringing
In Violet Naylor-Leyland’s book entitled Rare Birds True Style, she details the “erotic, exotic and eccentric” life of Hanbury’s upbringing. Hanbury told her a snippet of it, recalling, “Mum turned the basement into a nightclub for us, painting the whole place herself and hanging Moroccan lanterns and suzanis from the walls. It felt a bit like an opium den.”
She Would Host Themed Parties
In the same book entitled Rare Birds True Style, Hanbury held themed parties, including a food-themed one where she arrived in an outfit entitled “Catch of the Day.” For the look, she wore an octopus on her head and a fishnet look!
She (Reportedly) Sent Well-Wishes to Kate Middleton During Her Hospital Stay
Rose Hanbury and her husband reportedly sent well-wishes to Kate Middleton amid her surprise abdominal surgery. An insider claimed that “Kat’s Norfolk neighbors, the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley, David, and Rose, have sent their prayers and love to the Princess amid her health worries. They are very much concerned and praying for the future Queen’s speedy recovery after her abdominal surgery at The London Clinic.”
She Used to Wear Clothes Deisgned by Her Mother
And in the newspaper clipping, which was resurfaced by The List, “Model Rose Hanbury, daughter of designer Emma Hanbury, stood out in a velvet jacket and flowing…skirt. ‘It’s designed by my mother,’ Rose told me shyly. ‘Although I’m worried I look a bit less glamorous than everyone else.'”
She Is Close With the Parker-Bowles Family
Not only has she been photographed partying with Queen Camilla’s daughter, but she’s gone to her daughter’s wedding, supported Camilla’s son’s book openings, and even hung out with Camilla. So Hanbury is quite chummy with the Parker-Bowles family.