Sarah Rose Cholmondeley, Marchioness of Cholmondeley, has been widely praised for her style over the years, receiving praise for her outfits at events such as the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The former model, 39, was a researcher for Conservative MP Michael Gove, but now spends her time managing the estate of her husband, David Rocksavage, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley.
The couple live with their three children (twins Alexander Hugh George Cholmondeley, Earl of Rocksavage and Lord Oliver Timothy George Cholmondeley, both 15, and daughter Lady Iris Marina Aline Cholmondeley, eight) at Houghton Hall, a stately home. Grade I listed in Norfolk.
Built for Britain's first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, in the 1720s, Houghton Hall is set in a sprawling park known for its white fallow deer, and also features a walled garden and sumptuously decorated interiors by the famous English architect William Kent. It is a stone's throw from Anmer Hall, the home of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Lady Rose met Lord Cholmondeley, 23 years her senior, while on holiday in Italy in 2003. They announced their engagement six years later, a day before a quiet ceremony at Chelsea Town Hall in 2009.
Her parents are Timothy Hanbury, a website designer, and Emma Hanbury, a fashion designer. Her ties to the royal family go back generations: her maternal grandmother, Lady Elizabeth Lambert, was one of eight bridesmaids at the late Queen Elizabeth II's wedding to the Duke of Edinburgh.
(Dave Benett/Getty Images for Chris Levine)
Educated at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire, where annual tuition fees are around £38,000 for boarders, she signed with leading modeling agency Storm, famous for discovering Kate Moss, when she was 23. She once made tabloid headlines in 2005 after being photographed on vacation with her younger sister, Marina, and Tony Blair.
She briefly worked for Michael Gove, but left after giving birth to her two children.
Lady Rose rarely gives interviews but spoke openly about life at the huge 106-bedroom property in April last year with The English home, where she admitted that it had taken her a while to feel comfortable in the imposing surroundings.
“Moving anywhere feels awkward at first and it took me a while to adjust and feel at home,” she said. “We use the ground floor and the second and third floors, where the bedrooms are. The first floor is mainly occupied by the State Rooms. “I don’t know how many rooms we have in total.”
He added: “Of course, a house changes as a family is added. Family life brings a new dimension and some things need to be adapted. One of the first things I did was add a family kitchen.
“I wanted it to be very cozy and relaxed, so that it has a fireplace, a TV, a big sofa and we can cook and eat there. Before that, everything was very functional and David and I had to eat in the dining room every night. “Adding a family kitchen has allowed us to live much more casually.”
The house is “very much as it was” in the 1720s, he said, which is “a testament to the incredible care the house has received from its former occupants and David's family.”
When asked about the challenges of managing such a large estate, Lady Rose said it was about “constantly keeping an eye on things” and seeking expert advice, something she takes pride and care in doing.
“My husband is very knowledgeable,” she said. “And we have a fantastic team who are absolutely essential to keeping everything running. It is a never-ending project: there are always things to conserve, preserve and restore. We have many specialists who come to advise you. You get to meet a lot of experts and learn a lot over the years.”
She appears to manage the Houghton Hall Instagram account and occasionally shares photos of her husband and children enjoying the grounds and gardens.
In recent years, she has come under the spotlight for her glamorous outfits at royal occasions, including a state banquet at Buckingham Palace in 2017, where she was seated next to Prince Harry.
Rose Hanbury (left) and Daily Mail columnist Sarah Vine arrive at the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, London, on the first day of US President Donald Trump's three-day state visit to the UK in 2019.
(PENNSYLVANIA)
She also attended the coronation in May last year of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, where she wore a white dress with bold black details and a black bow at the neck, paired with a veiled headband, bow heels, and diamond earrings. and a matching dress. brooch.
Her son, Lord Oliver, was an honorary page, while her husband was made lord-in-waiting of King Charles.
Last year, she made headlines after it was reported that she encouraged her close friend, Kate Middleton, to attend a music festival held at Houghton Hall, after having dinner together at the estate.
He also works for several charities including East Anglia Children's Hospice.
