Rose Hanbury, the Duchess of Norfolk and an English Socialite, is an enigmatic personality whose social profile has been buzzing for years now. She rose to global prominence after finding herself center-stage in an alleged scandalous affair between Prince William and Duchess Kate. Rumors are also rife that her fallout with the Middleton family has led her to move away from her former friends. When it comes to her social and professional life, here’s a comprehensive analysis of everything that you need to know about Rose Hanbury.
Who is Rose Hanbury?
Rose Hanbury, née Vanessa Katherine Bryant, is the current Marchioness of Cholmondeley. She is also the third wife of David, the current Earl of Cholmondeley and Duke of Norfolk, a position which was once held by Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk.
Rose is the eldest daughter of Robert Bryant, a former chairman of Vizyon Ltd, an engineering firm, and his wife, Tessa. She has two siblings – Juliet and Thomas, who are both actors.
Rose attended an all-girls school in England before enrolling at Molinero College in London. She then went on to study art history at St. Andrew’s University in Scotland. After graduating in 2005, Rose received training to become a qualified art dealer from The British Antique Dealers’ Association.
Relationship with Prince William and Duchess Kate
Rose and Kate Middleton had a close friendship for over a decade before the alleged fallout between the two in March 2019. Reports stated that the cause of their estrangement was due to the rumored affair between Prince William and Rose Hanbury.
The issue was further complicated by the fact that Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge lived near to the Cholmondeley estate in Norfolk. Inn addition to that, both Prince William and Rose attended the same school, Eton College.
Amidst this scandal, Kensington Palace had denied the affair and issued a statement in April 2019. They said,
“This is a deeply personal matter for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and we will not be commenting further.”
Rose Hanbury’s Celebrity Status
Prior to the alleged affair, Rose was a prominent socialite and social media mogul, who was often present in events attended by members of the Royal Family. She was also a regular at the prestigious Prince of Wales’ dinner in 2013.
In February 2019, Rose was featured in Tatler magazine as part of their ‘Face of the Year’ feature. Nichi Hodgson, the fashion and beauty editor at Tatler, praised Rose for her charisma and sophistication. Hodgson also listed her as one of Britain’s most stylish people.
Rose’s celebrity status also rose after her presence at Prince William’s 40th birthday celebration in Wiltshire. The celebration was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Marchioness of Cholmondeley, and other members of the Royal Family.
Rumored Fallout with the Middleton Family
After Prince William’s 40th birthday celebration, some reports emerged that Rose had an alleged fallout with the Middleton family. It was rumored that Carole and Michael Middleton had requested Rose and her husband, David, to limit their contact with the duke and duchess.
Rose Meade, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, later moved out of her 15th-century manor, near Kensington Palace. Kensington Palace did not comment on this development, and Rose was absent from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s 10th wedding anniversary photo shoot.
Later, in November 2019, a report released by The Sun stated that Rose and David had moved to a new mansion, which was reportedly worth $7.2 million. This move further fueled the rumors of a feud between the two families.
Rose Hanbury’s Professional Career
Rose is currently the co-owner and director of Molinero Ltd, a London-based interior design firm. Recently, the company has completed works on several high-profile properties, such as the Spencer House in Mayfair, London.
Rose is also a qualified art dealer with years of experience in the field. She has also produced several artworks over the years and has displayed them in major exhibitions in the UK.
Besides art and design, Rose is also interested in horsemanship, just like her husband, David Cholmondeley. She is often involved in organizing events in East Anglia, such as fox hunts and polo matches.
Rose Hanbury is the current Marchioness of Cholmondeley and the wife of David Cholmondeley. Though her professional profile is impressive, her rise to global stardom is largely attributed to the rumored affair between herself and Prince William.
She has an illustrious schooling background and is an art dealer, interior designer and a horsewoman. She had a close friendship the Duchess of Cambridge, until it dissolved due to the alleged affair and Rose’s subsequent estrangement from the Middleton family.
Though there has been no official statement from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge about Rose Hanbury, it is certain that she has become an integral part of British high society and her story is one of the most talked-about topics in pubic conversations across the globe.
