Lady Rose Hanbury's name is back in the spotlight amid the speculation surrounding Kate Middleton's whereabouts.

While Kensington Palace announced in January that Middleton won't return to public outings until at least Easter following her abdominal surgery, this hasn't stopped social media users from wondering why she hasn't been seen since Christmas.

Among the many wild theories sparked by the Princess of Wales' absence from the public eye was that she and Prince William are allegedly headed for a divorce because of his alleged affair with Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, who was once dubbed by U.K. tabloids as the Princess of Wales' "rural rival." Enstarz could not independently verify the rumors.

The unverified rumor that Prince William, 41, allegedly cheated on his wife with the 39-year-old married British peeress while Princess Kate, 42, was pregnant with their youngest child, Prince Louis, first surfaced back in 2019.

At the time, lawyers for Prince William called the rumors "false and highly damaging" in a letter threatening legal action against a British outlet that published details of the speculation, The Daily Beast reported.

There has been no proof that Hanbury and William ever had a romantic relationship, and neither Hanbury nor the Waleses have publicly addressed the rumor.

Late last year, the rumors once again made headlines after royal correspondent Omid Scobie wrote in his controversial book, "Endgame," that Kensington Palace allegedly did everything to quash the rumor and get the Sun to stop digging into the allegations, according to Page Six.

The royal biographer later claimed in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that the Prince and Princess of Wales allegedly fell out with Hanbury but confirmed there is no proof that there is any truth to the affair rumors.

As rumors continue to swirl, here's everything to know about Rose Hanbury:

1. Hanbury is married to the Marquess of Cholmondeley

Hanbury became the Marchioness of Cholmondeley after marrying David Rocksavage, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, in 2009.

Rocksavage inherited the title and an estimated fortune of £112 million ($143 million) in 1990 when his father passed away, The Sun reported.

The couple -- who have an age gap of 23 years -- met in Italy in 2003 while on vacation. They announced that they were engaged and expecting twins in 2009 just shortly before tying the knot at Chelsea Town Hall.

2. Hanbury and her husband have three children

Lord and Lady Cholmondeley are parents to 15-year-old twin sons Alexander Hugh George Cholmondeley, Earl of Rocksavage, and Lord Oliver Timothy George Cholmondeley.

They also share an 8-year-old daughter, Lady Iris Marina Aline Cholmondeley.

3. Hanbury's family has ties with the British royal family

Hanbury's maternal grandmother, Lady Elizabeth Lambart, served as one of Queen Elizabeth II's bridesmaids when she wed Prince Philip in 1947.

4. Hanbury was a longtime friend and neighbor of Princess Kate and Prince William

Hanbury's family lives at Houghton Hall, which is located not far from Prince William and Middleton's country home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, England.

Tatler reported that Hanbury and her husband are believed to have gone on double dates with the Waleses. In addition, both Princess Kate and Hanbury are patrons of the East Anglia Children's Hospice.

In 2016, the two couples were photographed exchanging warm greetings at a gala dinner in support of East Anglia's Children's Hospice.

The following year, Hanbury also attended a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, where she was seated next to Prince Harry.

Despite the affair rumors, Hanbury and her family appeared to have remained close to the royal family.

She attended the May 2023 coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. For the historic event, her husband was appointed Lord-in-Waiting to King Charles, while their son, Lord Oliver, served as a Page of Honor.

5. Hanbury worked as a model and political researcher

Hanbury was signed to Storm, the modeling agency that discovered Kate Moss, when she was 23. She also briefly worked as a political researcher for Conservative MP Michael Gove, The Independent reported.

Hanbury studied at the prestigious Stowe School and got an Open University degree.

6. Hanbury manages her husband's estate

Since quitting her job, she has been managing Houghton Hall, which is a Grade I-listed estate.

Built in the 1720s, Houghton Hall, which was inherited by Hanbury's husband, boasts 106 rooms and is surrounded by 4,000 acres of grounds known for its white fallow deer.

Hanbury previously opened up about the challenges of managing their estate in an interview with The English Home.

She shared that she "constantly" keeps "an eye on things" and makes sure to seek advice from experts.

7. Hanbury is known for her fashion sense

Like Princess Kate, Hanbury has received praise for her looks at events, including the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the 2017 Buckingham Palace state banquet.

During King Charles' coronation, she looked stunning in a white dress with bold black detailing, including thick bands on her sleeves and a bow at her neck.

Hanbury accessorized her outfit with a veiled headband, drop earrings, and black heels, as seen in photos published by Cosmopolitan.

Tags
Rose Hanbury, Prince William, Kate Middleton