Inside The Swirling Rumors About Rose Hanbury's Husband David Rocksavage

The hits just keep coming for the royal family in Britain. When it was announced in January that Catherine, Princess of Wales, would be taking time to recuperate from abdominal surgery, the public was sympathetic. But her continued absence with nary a peep started a swirl of rumors about what was really going on. When she finally emerged in March, it was to post an edited photo on social media, which caused a whole new explosion of conspiracies.

Among the circulating theories is that Kate is actually nursing a broken heart and contemplating the state of her marriage. In 2019, her husband, William, Prince of Wales and the next in line for the British throne was rumored to have been having a fling with a long-time friend of the royal family, Rose Hanbury, Marchioness of Cholmondeley. It seems Prince William can't escape those affair rumors, which have resurfaced with a vengeance.

Royal watchers have turned their eyes to Hanbury during Kate's PR nightmare, digging into her relationship with William and her relationship with her husband, David Rocksavage, Marquess of Cholmondeley. It seems that Rocksavage has his own set of swirling rumors involving a close friendship with a scandalous artist and the lack of romance in his marriage to Hanbury.

David Rocksavage and Rose Hanbury, the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley, were married in June 2009. Rocksavage was 48 at the time, 23 years older than his bride, and considered a playboy bachelor. The nuptials happened quickly, days after the engagement was announced, and twin sons were born that same year, with a daughter following in 2016. 

The British aristocrat inherited his title, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, along with an actual castle and the family's home, Houghton Hall, which was originally built for the first prime minister of the United Kingdom. One of the rumors swirling is that his marriage has been one of convenience, devised to create his own heir to pass on the Cholmondeley legacy and estate. 

Rocksavage has also had a long-time friendship with François-Marie Banier, dating back to the early 1980s. When Rocksavage's sons were born, he named Banier the twins' godfather. If Banier's name sounds familiar, it's due to his scandal-filled past, including a fraud arrest and three-year prison sentence for swindling L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt out of millions of dollars. Despite his friend's controversy, Rocksavage still spends time with Banier in France, triggering rumors about his continued friendship.

The rumors popping up about David Rocksavage have only added more fuel to the bonfire of theories that Rose Hanbury and Prince William are engaging in an affair. While married with children, the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley are rumored to have a marriage in law only, leaving Hanbury free to pursue whomever she wants, as some people have deduced, without worry of losing her aristocratic title. One person noted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Now it makes sense why her husband was fine with Rose shagging PW."

Bringing it to a whole other level, there are rumors involving the Cholmondeley children. With Rocksavage rumored to want an heir but not necessarily a wife, theorists have proposed Hanbury was actually pregnant with William's offspring when she agreed to marry the marquess — a bargain giving her kids legitimacy and Rocksavage his heirs. As one person commented on X, "I just assumed it was because the marriage was so William's children that were born on the wrong side of the blanket have a name. Didn't realize we were still questioning that."

Rumors of Rocksavage's close friendship with François-Marie Banier have also added to the reason why Hanbury might be indulging in an affair. He's thought to spend a great deal of time in France with his friend, and may even have a purchased a house with him. Camps say the marchioness is left alone a lot, and William fills a void.