It’s a love story for the ages—a royal marriage built on actual affection and devotion rather than infidelity and beheadings (looking at you, Henry VIII).

All eyes were on Prince William and his wife, Princess Catherine, following Her Majesty’s death and King Charles III’s appointment. Will their marriage stand the test of time, just as his Gran’s did? Since their wedding, they have had three children. 

Although it has been mostly smooth sailing, tabloids reported in 2019 that William had cheated on his pregnant wife with Rose Hanbury. For some reason, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, pronounced ‘Chumley,’ gained notoriety in 2009 when she married David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, who is much older than her. Since then, she has been involved in several scandals that garnered international attention. While William and Catherine have presented a united front, Rose and David have yet to escape the public relations storm. 

According to the Daily Mail, David Cholmondeley was called ‘the greatest catch in England’ by his fellow blue blood. On his 30th birthday, the marquess inherited a fortune estimated to be as high as £112 million. To put this in perspective, it is more than his alleged romantic rival, Prince William, whose net worth is estimated to be $100 million (roughly £89 million), according to Celebrity Net Worth.

David inherited 10,000 acres of land and a small collection of castles, including the sprawling Norfolk estate, Houghton Hall, and Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire. 

Rose met David Cholmondeley when she was only 19 years old.

The marquess was 42 years old, only eight years younger than Rose’s father. 

Rose captured David’s heart despite their significant age gap. She convinced him to give up his womanizing ways, and after six years of dating, he abandoned his bachelorhood to marry her.

Tatler reported that the pair married almost immediately after announcing their engagement.

Rose Hanbury and David Cholmondeley welcomed twin boys, Alexander Hugh George, Earl of Rocksavage (nicknamed Xan), and Oliver Timothy George, Lord Cholmondeley, three months after their wedding. The twins arrived earlier than expected, which fueled rumors about when Rose became pregnant. However, her sister defended her before the birth, telling the Daily Mail, ‘All twins arrive slightly prematurely, and that will be the case for Rose.’ 

When the two boys appeared, the new parents had to decide which of their sons would be named David’s official heir and the 8th Marquess of Cholmondeley. The title is usually given to the first son to enter the delivery room, but Xan and Oliver arrived almost simultaneously via C-section. According to The Telegraph, Rose and David chose the next marquess based on who weighed more at birth.

Oliver was chosen as the next marquess. “There were only eight ounces in it, but they will be a very significant eight ounces,” a family friend told The Telegraph. In March 2016, the couple welcomed their daughter, Lady Iris Marina Aline Cholmondeley.

Despite their previous scandals, Rose Hanbury and David Cholmondeley were unprepared for the international attention they received following the rumors of a royal affair. Both parties denied the allegations. Editor-at-large Richard Kay explained in the Daily Mail that Rose and Catherine, Princess of Wales, were considering taking legal action. 

In 2019, the marchioness attended a Trump State Dinner without her wedding ring, and in 2021, David was also seen without his wedding ring (via New Idea). Rose and David may have chosen not to wear their rings for various reasons. However, some wonder if the stress of becoming tabloid fodder has caused a rift in this millionaire couple’s relationship. Only time will tell for the tight-lipped duo.