PrinceWilliam /Rose Hanbury
Why Prince William Affair Rumors Won’t Lay Down and Die
The buzz around Prince William’s rumored affair refuses to fade, despite British newspapers scrubbing at least 21 articles hinting at an alleged tryst with his Norfolk neighbor, Rose Hanbury. A deep dive by Vulture reporter Ellie Hall reveals the extent of this information purge. The former royal’s office didn’t comment on whether they were behind the story deletions, but The Daily Beast has previously noted the Palace's efforts to quash such rumors in the UK press.
Friends of William told The Daily Beast that he initially dismissed the allegations as "rubbish on the internet," but was compelled to act when Hanbury, a close friend of William and Princess Catherine, was named. Hanbury's legal team denied the allegations after Stephen Colbert joked about the affair on The Late Show, leading to her first public denial and a legal warning to CBS.
Ellie Hall’s Vulture article criticized the lack of media transparency, highlighting the removal of articles without informing readers. Hall pointed out that attempts to hide information only fueled more interest, a classic example of the Streisand effect. She believes the story would have died in 2019 if not for the legal threats.
Royal author Christopher Andersen noted that attempts to scrub coverage of the alleged affair are futile and only stoke the fire further. However, William and Catherine’s friends defended their actions, stating they would have ignored the rumors if Hanbury wasn’t named. They emphasized the Cholmondeley family's significant role in the monarchy, with David Cholmondeley, Rose’s husband, holding the position of Lord Great Chamberlain under Queen Elizabeth II and continuing under King Charles.
Kensington Palace declined to comment on the matter.