Kate Middleton Has Got A New Friend — Rose Hanbury, Marchioness of Cholmondeley

The latest friend of Kate Middleton in Norfolk is Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, who hosted the former and her husband Prince William at Houghton Hall for a gala dinner on Wednesday. She and husband David, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, are close friend of the British royal couple. Sarah, who is also popular by her maiden name Rose Hanbury, gave some stiff competition to Kate in the sartorial department at the gala dinner.

The 32-year-old former model worked for some time at Storm Models during her time in front of the camera. It is the same agency that discovered Kate Moss. Apart from modeling, Rose had a brief stint in parliament as she worked with former shadow education minister Michael Gove. But, her career as a political researcher was cut short due to acute morning sickness.

She famously married her boyfriend David, who is 23 years older to her. Rose was pregnant even before her wedding. In June 2009 the couple announced their engagement, the next day it was revealed they were expecting and a day later they tied the knot in a low-key ceremony at Chelsea Town Hall. The couple has three children, six-year-old twins Alexander, Earl of Rocksavage and Oliver, Lord Cholmondeley, and three-month-old daughter Lady Iris.

The 56-year-old David inherited an estimated 112 million pounds estate 25 years ago, which included Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire. Meanwhile, Rose’s royal connection reportedly dates back to Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding in 1947. Her paternal grandmother Lady Rose Lambert was a bridesmaid at the queen’s wedding to Prince Philip.

Rose lives just three miles from William and Kate’s country home Anmer Hall. Like Kate, Rose loves designer clothes. At the China State Dinner in December last year, the marchioness opted for a pale blue Alice Temperley gown paired with a tiara. At William and Kate’s royal wedding in 2011, she wore a black and white fitted dress and sky-high Louboutin heels and was described as the best-dressed guest.

As for their casual styles, the 34-year-old royal is conservative with jeans, Breton sweatshirts and shoes, whereas Rose is a bohemian. She is mostly seen in colorful scarves, leather jackets and knickknacks brought back from travels in India or from her mother Emma’s fashion label.