Stephen Colbert trolled Prince William’s alleged affair with Rose Hanbury amid the continued speculation surrounding Kate Middleton’s health and her whereabouts.
“The kingdom has been all a flutter by the seeming disappearance of Kate Middleton. Well now, internet sleuths are guessing that Kate’s absence may be related to her husband and the future King of England William having an affair,” he said on Tuesday’s episode of his show, “The Late Show.”
Colbert gasped and sarcastically added, “Oh no, my heart goes out to poor Kate.”
“So, I think we all know who the alleged other woman is. Say it with me –– the Marchioness of Cholmondeley –– what a beautiful name!” he quipped, referring to Hanbury’s formal royal title.
The talk show host pointed out that Cholmondeley is actually pronounced “Chumley” and made the bizarre pronunciation a running joke.
“Now there have been rumors an affair between William and the Marching Band of Chicanery since 2019,” he said, mocking her title.
“According to tabloids back then, when Kate supposedly confronted him about it, he laughed it off saying there was nothing to it. Always a good response when your wife accuses you of cheating” he continued.
Colbert, 59, then started speaking with a British accent and joked that Prince William said, “Ha ha, imagine me having an affair! It is to laugh.”
“It reminds me of a jape –– knock, knock, who’s there? Oh it’s my illegitimate son. I’ve knocked up my mistress,” he said.
The comedian explained that Hanbury is “an old friend of the royals” and married to “a close friend of William’s, David Rocksavage.”
“Really? Rocksavage? That sounds less like a British noble and more like a musician from the ‘Flintstones.’ Rocksavage? Oh I’m sorry, I’m being told it’s actually pronounced Chumley,” he concluded while the audience laughed and clapped.
Colbert brought up the topic after citing a story titled, “Rumors Surrounding Prince William’s Relationship With Rose Hanbury Are at an All-Time High Amid Kate Middleton’s Recovery.”
The story included tweets from people theorizing that Middleton has been kept out of the public eye, because “William keeps getting on with Rose Hanbury” and is getting a divorce.
However, Middleton’s rep has previously told Page Six that she is recovering from “planned abdominal surgery” and will only be “providing significant updates” until she resumes her duties on Easter.
The Princess of Wales, 42, sparked martial concerns when she posted a viral photo with her children where she wasn’t wearing her signature sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
However, Middleton has since admitted to editing the photo after people noticed several flaws, but she did not address not wearing the sparkler.
Rumors about the alleged, and not proven, affair between William and Hanbury, began spreading in 2019 when InTouch was the first to publish the claim.
The outlet reported that after Middleton “immediately confronted” William, he “just laughed it off,” but she still saw her friendship with Hanbury in an “entirely different light.”
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William’s attorney denied the story and told the Daily Beast it was “false and highly damaging.”
The rumors died down for a few years before Instagram gossip account Deuxmoi posted a tip in 2022 that claimed a British royal couple’s “extramarital affair is an open secret,” according to a screenshot shared by Cosmopolitan.
The anonymous message didn’t specify the alleged royal family member.
One year later, people began discussing the speculation again when Hanbury and were husband were attending King Charles III’s coronation in May 2023.
“There has never been any enmity between Kate and Rose. The rumors were all a load of rubbish. The family are ancient allies of the Crown and they will be there,” a source close to the family told the Daily Beast in April 2023.
William, Kate and Hanbury have not addressed the rumors.