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Kate Middleton's 'Rural Rival' Attended The Same Banquet As The Duchess

BRITAIN-US-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-ROYALS

A few months have gone by since reports suggested Kate Middleton ordered Prince William to cut ties with their close friend Rose Hanbury. British tabloids even dubbed Rose, whose formal title is the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, Kate's 'Rural Rival.' The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reportedly considered legal action against the publications who printed the story, though ultimately decided against it because none of the reports were able to offer up any evidence that their claims were true.

As the story of an alleged feud between Kate and Rose died down in the press, royal conspiracy theorists started to believe Prince William had an affair with Rose while Kate was pregnant with Prince Louis. While the affair rumors have not been printed in any major publication, a staff writer for the Times of London tweeted about the alleged romance between William and Rose. Though he deleted his post, screenshots were taken and spread widely across social media. "I know about the affair. Everyone knows about the affair, darling," Giles Coren wrote.

William and Kate did take legal action as these rumblings of an affair began to spread online. Attorneys with London law firm Harbottle and Lewis, which has represented the royal family in the past, sent a letter to at least one British publication threatening legal action if they print the affair rumors. According to the Daily Beast, the letter reads: “In addition to being false and highly damaging, the publication of false speculation in respect of our clients’ private life also constitutes a breach of his privacy pursuant to Article 8 of the European Convention to Human Rights."

It seems as though all is well between William, Kate, and Rose, as the Marchioness of Cholmondeley attended Buckingham Palace’s State Banquet in honor of President Trump’s U.K. trip. According to Town & Country, Kate and Rose were seated near each other during the banquet, as well. Here's a photo of Rose into the ballroom at Buckingham Palace from the night of the dinner:

U.S. President Trump's State Visit To UK - Day One

Rose, as well as her husband David, Marquess of Cholmondeley, were 2 of 170 invited guests. Royal reporter Richard Palmer explained the Marquees of Cholmondeley was invited due to his constitutional duties attached to his role as Lord Great Chamberlain.

Photo: Getty