William & Rose Rumours Rock Kate

Duchess Tells Prince William To ‘Banish Former Friend’

They are the royal rumours which have left Kate boiling with rage and that threaten to ruin her relationships with close friends known as the “Turnip Toffs”.

The Duchess of Cambridge has reportedly told husband Prince William to “banish” near neighbour Rose Hanbury after a “terrible falling out” with her “rural rival”.

Rose is the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, whose husband David, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, is a close pal of William’s. She is known as a “beguiling socialite” and a “glamorous ex-model” – and until this year the two couples got on well, living just 6km apart in Norfolk, near the Queen’s Sandringham estate.

The royals and the aristocrats are all part of a set of wealthy farmers and landowners known as the “Turnip Toffs”.

So what are the rumours which have torn them apart and hit the headlines in the British tabloids?

One friend close to both couples said: “The rumours started around Christmas that William had become just a bit too close to Rose and was infatuated with her.

“She is a naturally flirtatious and beautiful woman and William is only human.

“The rumours are untrue but they got back to Kate and she hit the roof.

“It’s a very small world in the aristocratic country set and social media amplifies everything.