Kate Middleton and Rose Hanbury’s friendship and ‘feud’ - ‘Rural rivals’, fashion blunder and link to Queen Elizabeth II
Kate Middleton and Rose Hanbury became 'fast friends' in NorfolkKate Middleton and Lady Rose Hanbury have been socialising in the same circles for a number of years. After rumours of a ‘rivalry’ a few years ago, what’s the latest on their friendship and rumoured ‘feud’?
The Princess of Wales and Marchioness of Cholmondeley are linked in more ways than one. From reports of partying in Norfolk to attending royal events together, let’s look at the relationship between Kate and Rose.
Who is Lady Rose Hanbury to the royal family?
The former model and aristocrat, born in 1985, hails from a family with links to the royals long before Lady Rose Hanbury met Kate Middleton and Prince William.
Her maternal grandmother, Lady Elizabeth Lambart, was one of Queen Elizabeth II’s bridesmaids at her wedding.
She married her husband, David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, who is 23 years her senior. After the wedding, Rose became lady of Houghton Hall, a historic Palladian mansion settled in Norfolk. Originally built for Sir Robert Walpole, Britain’s first Prime Minister in the 1700s, it boasts more than 100 rooms.
She lives just 15 minutes away from the Sandringham estate the royals love to spend Christmas in.
Remember King Charles’ coronation? They were there. Lady Rose’s husband David was named as one of the king’s ‘lord-in-waiting’. One of the couple’s twin sons was also an official page of honour for the royal ceremony. You may have seen Oliver standing next to Prince George on the special day, who was also a page of honour.
David was made a permanent lord-in-waiting, meaning he will likely be at many royal events and state functions in the future.
‘Fast friendship’
Reports say Kate Middleton and Rose Hanbury became fast friends before she married Prince William in 2011. As Kate would visit Sandringham to see her future husband and they’d socialise.
Then when they tied the knot and were gifted Amner Hall – a section of the Sandringham Estate – by the late Queen, their neighbourly bonds grew.
The two couples developed a strong friendship.
It’s said William and Kate socialise in an elite country circle in Norfolk, called the ‘Turnip Toffs’.
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Kate Middleton and Rose Hanbury ‘feud’ rumours quickly shut down
In 2019, rumours arose of a rift between the couples and friends.
However, these were shut down by a family source who said “these hurtful rumours of a fall-out are simply false”.
In the summer of 2023, the duo were partying it up at Houghton Festival, a 24-hour rave weekend hosted by the Cholmondeleys. This seemed to squash the rumours even further.
Kate is said to have enjoyed spicy margaritas and enjoyed the techno tunes during the event, while being accompanied by her security. Sources at a local restaurant, Turntable & Napkin, said the princess and the members of the party even left a eye-watering £700 tip for staff.
Fashion blunders
It’s common within friendships to accidentally go to an event or party wearing the same or similar clothing – even if it is a fashion faux pas. Unfortunately, Kate Middleton and Rose Hanbury have had to deal with this as well. It would also be something Princess Kate wouldn’t want fans to discuss either. She recently made it clear she doesn’t want her clothing to make headlines.
At King Charles’ coronation, both women were seen wearing the same Aquazurra’s Bow Tie Pumps. Whereas, the year before Rose donned the Ancaster Heathcote Tiara, strikingly similar to Kate’s.
However, Rose’s tiara is a family heirloom which has been passed down through the Cholmondeley family and dates back to 1952. She has worn it before, at the 2015 Chinese State Banquet and the 2017 Spanish State Visit Banquet.
Both living in Norfolk and coming from well-to-do families, Kate Middleton and Rose Hanbury have a lot in common.
Despite their fashion blunders, they both have three children as well.
Although, William and Kate chose to move away from Norfolk to the private Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate. They wanted to be closer to the late Queen and wanted to provide their children with a private and ‘normal’ family life.
It’s likely Rose and Kate won’t be seeing as much of each other as they once did, but remain friends.
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