“Choosing this precise moment to discreetly present Prince William's mistress is crazy,” writes a user.
For several days now, the press has been republishing portraits of Rose Hanbury, Marchioness of Cholmondeley and alleged ex-mistress of the Prince of Wales.
It was enough to arouse the indignation of the English.
But also to revive rumors of a divorce between the heir to the throne and Kate Middleton, whose prolonged absence worries the British.
The princess has in fact been convalescing since January 16, when she underwent “scheduled abdominal surgery”.
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After this operation, the mother of George, Charlotte and Louis was only seen on very rare occasions.
The family portrait published by Kensington Palace on Sunday March 10, in which she appears all smiles in the company of her children, did not help matters.
This was boycotted by the major press agencies who pointed out the fact that the photo had been retouched.
Enough to fuel the conspiracy theories that are flourishing on social networks, regarding the supposed “disappearance” of the princess.
But also on her alleged separation from Prince William.
Also read “Leave Kate Alone”: the English tabloids come to the rescue of Kate Middleton
Multiple portraits
Speculations reinforced by the publication on the site
The Independent
, on Sunday March 10, of an article devoted to Rose Hanbury.
In 2019, rumors circulated around the alleged affair between the Marquise and the eldest son of Charles III.
The wife of the Marquess David Cholmondeley, whose home is next to Wales' former home, Anmer Hall, was once a close friend of Kate Middleton.
A friendship which would have broken after the supposed adultery between the prince and Rose Hanbury.
And if these rumors have never been confirmed, the journalist Omid Scobie claimed in his book
Endgame,
released in November 2023, that Christian Jones, the press officer of Kensington Palace, had offered the
Sun
scoops on the royalty if the daily agreed to “put the foot down on the rumors” of an affair.
And for Internet users, the recent publication of these portraits of Rose Hanbury on the sites
Hollywood Life, The Sun, New York Post
, and
Entertainment Tonight
is not a coincidence.
“On the verge of divorce”
“Well, she’s Prince William’s mistress…why publish a newspaper article about her now?
commented @Careyemms under
The Independent
's Twitter post .
Nothing is due to chance…” Some have thus implied that the press was preparing the ground to officially introduce Rose Hanbury as the prince’s companion.
“William and Kate are clearly on the verge of divorce and the media is quietly portraying his mistress,” wrote angelamorales18.
“Camilla did it, why couldn’t she?” quipped @PocketConcerned.
Still others deplored the tabloids' lack of sensitivity, while Kate Middleton is still recovering, and the date of her return to public life is unknown.
“They are doing to Kate what they did to Diana,” said @sheridanlooks.
Some took the side of humor, saying that the story was worthy of an episode of
Downton Abbey
… or
The Crown
.