How Kate Middleton’s friendship with society stunner Rose Hanbury survived rift rumours

Following widespread claims the Princess of Wales had fallen out with longtime society friend, Rose Hanbury, the pair appear closer than ever.

William and Kate with their friend, Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley. Picture: Stephen Pond/Getty Images

Their friendship has been plagued by rumours of a deep rift in recent years – but when the famously clean-living Princess of Wales went to her first rave this week, it was with none other than Rose Hanbury.

Socialite Rose is said to be no stranger to a “hedonistic” night, having grown up with “erotic, exotic and eccentric” parties at her impressive childhood manor, Wembury House in Devon, reports The Sun.

So just what is it that bonds the two women?

Former model Rose didn’t befriend the Princess of Wales until Kate first started going to Sandringham with Prince William.

As royal expert Ingrid Seward confirmed to The Sun: “They were not childhood friends.

“They are from very different backgrounds.

“Rose is an aristocrat in her own right and something of a free spirit.

“She married filmmaker David the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley when pregnant with twins.”

While Kate was brought up having a respectable “Enid Blyton ‘Famous Five’ childhood”, Rose – now the Marchioness of Cholmondeley – had a more colourful experience.

In socialite Violet Naylor-Leyland’s book, Rare Birds True Style, Rose recalls her teenage years where her parents transformed their home for wild parties.

Prince William and Kate are greeted by David Cholmondeley and his wife, Rose Hanbury, as they arrive at a gala dinner at their home in 2016. Picture: Stephen Pond/Getty Images

There was plenty of speculation that the pair had fallen out in recent years. Picture: Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

As reported by the Mail, Rose divulged: “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.”

One party with a food-themed dress code saw Rose – whose grandma was a bridesmaid in Queen Elizabeth’s wedding to Prince Philip – embody a “Catch of the Day” donning “fish netting and an octopus on her head.”

Meanwhile, another “dangerous” soiree saw attendees using a flaming loo roll, doused in naphtha, as a hockey ball.

The game was cut short after someone’s hair caught alight.

The family moved in glamorous circles and Rose and her sister were famously pictured bikini-clad with Tony Blair on holiday.

And while Kate’s family’s $10 million Bucklebury mansion features cosy log fireplaces and traditional decor, Rose’s childhood home had rooms adored with suspender belts for curtain pelmets – and a eye-catching picture of a stuffed sea turtle in the downstairs loo.

Rose now finds herself the chatelaine of one of England’s finest Palladian houses, Houghton Hall, in the grounds of which the rave took place.

The 4,000-acre, 106-room pad is just a stone’s throw (5 kilometres to be exact) from the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Anmer Hall – but it’s not just proximity the two women have in common.

Rose and her sister, Marina, had a very different upbringing to Kate and her siblings. Picture: Getty Images

Kate and Rose have one particular common interest – both being valued joint patrons of East Anglia Children’s Hospices, with the Princess having made “emotional” visits to see kids with rare conditions.

Ingrid added of Middleton and the Marchioness: “I think they are both quite reserved but can certainly let their hair down when they want to.

“They are both artistic and probably both used to getting on with life on their own terms.”

Rose and her husband, who wed in 2009 and are worth an estimated $223 million, have twin boys, Alexander and Oliver, and daughter Iris.

The boys have been playmates of Prince George and the couples have enjoyed dinner parties and pals’ weddings together.

Ingrid continued: “Both Rose and Kate love children and Rose is very discreet.

“I think Rose was very much a party girl but now she has three children and a stately home to manage, so I imagine she doesn’t have much time.

“Since Rose’s marriage, she has been a mother, a hostess and running the stately home, Houghton Hall, which is a full time job.

“Rose and Kate both work and have ‘jobs’ although quite different. “

In 2019, there were rumours of a rift between Kate and Rose, which were later slammed by friends as “false” and “mad.”

A family source allegedly told the Daily Mail: “These hurtful rumours of a fallout are simply false.”

Rose arriving through the East Gallery of Buckingham Palace for a State Banquet in 2019. Picture: Victoria Jones- WPA Pool/Getty Images

But the friendship appears as strong as ever, as they partied together at the Houghton Festival last weekend.

The Dukan diet-loving Kate, who is said to avoid dairy and “drinks spirulina and kale smoothies morning and afternoon”, even splashed out on a balthazar-sized (14 litre) bottle of AIX rosé, according to the London Evening Standard.

Rose and Kate met years ago, when the Princess of Wales, who was dating Prince William at the time, started visiting him at Sandringham – as Rose was living nearby at Houghton Hall with her new husband.

Thanks to the Marquess and Marchioness’ royal connections, David and Rose were in attendance at Kate and William’s wedding in 2011.

After Prince William and Kate tied the knot, they were given Anmer Hall in Norfolk as a wedding gift from the late Queen Elizabeth.

The Cambridges moved to the country bolthole in 2014 when William joined the East Anglian Air Ambulance charity, and they used it as their main residence until 2017 – with Prince Louis being born in 2018.

When they resided in the Norfolk pad, their friendship deepened with neighbours David and Rose.

It wasn’t long before the couple became part of Prince William and Kate’s “Norfolk set” of countryside pals, also known as the “Turnip Toffs”.

The pair’s warm greetings to each other at a gala in 2016 confirmed their tight-knit relationship.

And Rose was not out of place being seated near William and Kate at a banquet in honour of President Trump’s state visit to the UK in 2019.

Despite all differences, it seems the women’s bond remains as strong as ever.

Ingrid added: “I think their friendship is improbable as they come from very different backgrounds.

“But they are both very strong women. Whatever happens they will survive. “They recognise their similarities and like each other for it.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.