Fans Give William’s Rumored Mistress a Brutal Nickname — But It’s Actually a Dig at Another Royal

Prince William’s alleged affair with his long-time friend, Rose Hanbury, sparked a firestorm online. The rumors gained traction just as his wife, Kate Middleton, was undergoing cancer treatment and disappeared from the spotlight. While people were furious at William, his rumored mistress mostly bore the brunt of the public’s wrath. The internet mocked Hanbury with a brutal nickname, dubbing her ‘Camilla 2.0.’

Hanbury a.k.a. Sarah Rose Cholmondeley, is a former model and the current Marchioness of Cholmondeley. Married to David Cholmondeley since 2009, she has long been part of the Cambridges' inner circle. Despite her commitment to another man, rumors of her affair with William surfaced. Given the alleged nature of their relationship, she was often compared to Queen Consort Camilla Parker Bowles, who was once known for being the ‘third woman’ in Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage. It is worth noting that Hanbury has repeatedly denied rumors of an affair through her lawyers.

A profile on Hanbury, published by The Independent in March 2024, sparked discussions on X (formerly Twitter) about her alleged affair. A royal fan quipped, “Oh, we’re getting Camilla 2.0 with that Rose Hanbury.” Another echoed, “Rose Hanbury is Camilla 2.0.” In a similar vein, a comment also read, “Rose Hanbury is Camilla 2.0. How long will it take for William’s divorce and marriage to Rose? Has anyone done a DNA test on Rose’s children?” A royal enthusiast chimed, "Rose Hanbury is getting ready for her Camilla Parker-Bowles moment."

As per She Knows, Hanbury and Camilla made headlines after they were pictured laughing together on the final day of the Badminton Horse Trials in May 2024. A royal watcher quipped, “Camilla with William's special close friend Rose Hanbury. Camilla is teaching her the ropes, or what?” Another echoed, “Rose Hanbury is front and center in royal family affairs. She’s hanging out with Camilla, her son is holding King Charles' robe, and she's wearing Kate’s hat. Yeah, she’s making the rounds. #WhereIsKate.” Many speculated that Hanbury was perhaps in an open marriage.

Hanbury also made headlines for copying Middleton’s fashion choices. At a service dedication for the Order of the British Empire, netizens spotted her wearing the same dark Lock & Co. Tiffany hat that Middleton had worn at major events—during a Commonwealth event at Westminster Abbey in 2018 and at the Remembrance Sunday service. As per Us Weekly, the affair rumors reportedly brought William and Middleton closer, strengthening their relationship. “It forced [Middleton] and William to sit back and examine their relationship, which they realized they should have been doing more often,” a source close to the royal pair told the outlet.