Who knew that one state dinner could spark so much drama? At first, it was Trump’s clash with the Sussex royals that made the Queen’s banquet a tense affair. But apparently, it was a fraught evening for the Cambridge royals too. Kate Middleton’s reaction to Rose Hanbury’s state dinner appearance was nothing short of fury, according to an unnamed source for Woman’s Day. In the past few months, Kate has been dealing with rumors that Prince William cheated on her with Hanbury while she was pregnant — and though a recent report says the Cambridge couple is working through it, Kate was not happy to see one-time friend Hanbury at the palace.
While British media has kept largely quiet about these rumors — perhaps as a result of William threatening legal action — a few publications did innocuously note Hanbury’s attendance at last week’s state dinner. Noteworthy details included the fact that Hanbury was one of the last people in the procession, had a Daily Mail gossip columnist on her arm and was seated as far away from Kate as humanly possible. It’s unclear whether any of these are subtle snubs to Hanbury, who a royal reporter says was in attendance due to her husband’s status as Lord Great Chamberlain. Either way, it does not appear that Hanbury and Kate had any opportunity — or intention — of interacting that night.
Rose Hanbury, Marchioness of Cholmondeley, was at the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace tonight — and it looks like she was at the VERY end of the procession into the ballroom.
(📸 @GettyImages) pic.twitter.com/kvySFML6al— Ellie Hall (@ellievhall) June 3, 2019
Now, an unnamed source has come forward to Woman’s Day claiming that, while Kate was photographed as all smiles at the banquet, here her true feelings were elsewhere. “Kate was no doubt furious when she found out Rose had been invited to the dinner,” the source said, adding: “Not wanting to give credence to the rumours she insisted Rose was kept at least 30 feet from her at all times.” The statement doesn’t quite add up: If Kate was looking to squash rumors of any trouble with Hanbury — with whom she was close, before rumors of a “rural rivalry” took hold — wouldn’t she have actively sought her out?
We may never know what really happened between the Cambridge royals and the Cholmondeleys, but it does seem these couples aren’t as friendly as they once were. It could be evidence that these rumors have some truth to them — but just as likely, it was simply too difficult to continue socializing with the couple once every move was subject to further scrutiny and allegations. It’s perfectly understandable that Kate wouldn’t want William, at least, to be photographed near Hanbury. But given how chummy she and William seem of late, we hope Hanbury’s presence wasn’t really enough to induce full-on fury.
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