Adding fuel to the fire during speculation about Kate Middleton’s secret surgery, talk show host Stephen Colbert trolled Prince William about rumors of an alleged affair with Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley.
On “The Late Show” on Tuesday, March 12, Colbert humorously addressed an old rumor from 2019 suggesting an affair between Prince William and Rose Hanbury.
“The kingdom has been all a flutter by the seeming disappearance of Kate Middleton. Well now, internet sleuths are guessing that Kate’s absence may be related to her husband and the future King of England William having an affair,” he said.
“Oh no, my heart goes out to poor Kate,” he sarcastically added.
Colbert highlighted that the name Cholmondeley is really pronounced as “Chumley” and, humorously, turned this unusual pronunciation into a recurring gag.
The rumor resurfaced amidst speculation about Kate Middleton’s prolonged absence from public view since December, attributed to a secret surgery. Colbert’s monologue brought the matter back into public discourse, leading to widespread media coverage and online discussion.
Compounding the intrigue is a family portrait of Catherine, Princess of Wales, with her three children, released by Kensington Palace on Mother’s Day in the UK. Subsequently, major news agencies retracted the photo, citing evidence that the photo had been altered. Specifically, discrepancies were noted in Princess Charlotte’s hand alignment and the overall appearance of the photo, which seemed to contain editing.
Photography experts analyzed the controversial photo, identifying various signs of manipulation, such as misaligned sleeves, blurred parts, and inconsistent shading. The incident led to an increase in speculation around the secrecy and transparency of the monarchy, with some even suggesting it lent credibility to rumors about the state of William and Kate’s marriage.
The 42-year-old Princess of Wales ignited worries about her marriage because viewers noticed she wasn’t wearing her characteristic diamond and sapphire engagement ring in the photo.
In response to the fallout, Kate Middleton took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain the manipulation of the photo, stating her occasional experimentation with editing and apologizing for any confusion caused. Kensington Palace, however, has refused to release the original, unedited photo.
The rumors of an affair between Prince William and Hanbury, a close neighbor and part of William and Kate’s social circle, first emerged in 2019, but have never been confirmed. Both the royal couple and Hanbury have remained silent on the matter, while William’s attorney has publicly denied the allegations, describing them as “false and highly damaging.”
Hanbury, a former researcher and model, is married to David Rocksavage, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, and the couple has three children. They reside near the royal family’s country estate and have participated in many royal events, including Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral and King Charles III’s coronation, highlighting their close ties to the royal family.
The resurfacing of these rumors and the photo scandal has rekindled public interest and speculation about the dynamics within the British royal family.
Royal author, Omid Scobie, in his book “Endgame” has discussed the enduring nature of such rumors. Scobie also mentioned concerns in Kensington Palace about the potential negative impact on Prince William’s reputation.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Scobie said he understands why gossip has spread that William cheated on his wife.
“Unfortunately, if a rumor’s left to kind of do its own thing, it can run 20 laps around the world before you even think about what, how you want to kind of address it,” the writer explained.
The affair allegations and photo manipulation controversy underscore ongoing challenges faced by the British royal family in managing public relations and privacy in the digital age.
