London - They're rural Norfolk neighbours who've got so much in common. But, sorry Kate Middleton, the superglam Marchioness of Cholmondeley lives in even grander style
CATHERINE OSTLER examines their striking similarities . . .
HIGH-SOCIETY HUSBANDS
The story of Kate and William’s romance, after they met at the University of St Andrews as students, has been well-told. They are close in age — Kate is 34, William 33 — and with complementary temperaments. The only division between them was class — but middle-class Kate didn’t put a foot wrong during their courtship and today they remain the perfect love match, something of a rarity for royals.
What, then, of Rose Hanbury? Well, she surprised society gossips by falling pregnant before she had even walked down the aisle with blue-blooded lover David Rocksavage, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, who, at 55, is 23 years her senior.
The couple announced their engagement in June 2009. The very next day, Rose’s mother, Emma, revealed that her daughter was pregnant — and the following day the couple wed in a low-key ceremony at Chelsea Town Hall.
A (VERY) SHORT STINT IN THE WORKPLACE
Kate’s employment history has been much derided. After attending Marlborough boarding school and St Andrews, she did a brief stint designing jewellery at fashion brand Jigsaw and took photographs for her parents’ party planning website.
Meanwhile Rose, who boarded at Stowe and has a degree from the Open University, combined her modelling work with a post in the offices of then shadow education minister Michael Gove as a political researcher. Severe morning sickness ended her fledgling career — something else she has in common with Kate, who also suffered from intense sickness while she was pregnant with George.
THE BODY BEAUTIFUL
Kate, of course, is famously slender, her figure becoming almost instantly trim again after the births of Prince George and Princess Charlotte, thanks to a dedicated fitness regimen, low-carb organic diet and green smoothies whipped up in her beloved Nutribullet blender.
Rose is trim, too, but has more of a bombshell figure and worked as a some-time model at Kate Moss’s old agency, Storm.
You can see why they signed her up — slim as a reed, big brown eyes and a generous cleavage that rather puts athletic-looking Kate in the shade.
WARDROBES WITH WOW FACTOR
First glance there is quite a striking resemblance between Kate and Rose. There are the strong, dark eyebrows. The subtle make-up. And, of course, the tumbling, glossy brown hair.
Both have similarly exquisite designer wardrobes, too.
Kate is probably the most-watched clotheshorse in the world and her current favourite designers include Jenny Packham — as seen in our main picture above — Alexander McQueen, Erdem and Catherine Walker.
Rose, too, loves high fashion.
At the recent State banquet for the president of China she was a vision in pale blue Temperley, worn with a tiara. At the Royal Wedding she was described as the best-dressed guest, in a fitted black and white dress with skyscraper black Louboutin heels.
But while Kate is conservative in her casual wear — jeans, Breton tops, deck shoes — Rose is a bohemian-looking creature usually spotted in scarves, leather jackets and things brought back from travels in India or from her mother’s own fashion label.
With Rose well settled with her landed Marquess and other daughter Marina, 34, comfortably married off to the Earl of Durham, the son of Lord Lambton, Emma can be quietly satisfied with her matchmaking skills.
Daily Mail