Rose Hanbury's lawyers sent a legal notice to late night host Stephen Colbert after he quipped about gossip of an alleged affair with Prince William, RadarOnline.com has learned.
"The rumor appears to have entered into the mainstream media recently as a result of another joke made about it on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," lawyers for the British peeress said, revealing they have taken action to squash the speculation once and for all.
"We have written on our client's behalf to CBS and various other reputable media organizations to confirm that the allegation is false," the lawyers told In Touch in a statement.
During a recent episode of his show, Colbert poked fun at the claims of Hanbury and William's alleged tryst in 2019. "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 began.
"I think we all know who the alleged other woman is, say it with me, The Marchioness of Cholmondeley," Colbert continued. "According to tabloids, back then, when Kate supposedly confronted him about it, he 'laughed it off, saying there was nothing to it.' Aha, always a good response when your wife accuses you of cheating," he satirically added while holding a cup of tea.
The television host pointed out that Hanbury is an "an old friend of the royals" who is also the wife of "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," he quipped.
Hanbury assumed the title of Marchioness of Cholmondeley after she and David wed in 2009.
Kate, meanwhile, continues to be at the center of the rumor mill herself after taking time off from royal duties following abdominal surgery in January.
A well-placed royal source told RadarOnline.com exclusively that "she continues to recover after the surgery, but the recuperation has been more difficult than expected."
Kate's whereabouts and well-being have become a trending topic online after she posted a Mother's Day photo with her and William's three kids before revealing the image had been edited after eagle-eyed viewers noticed some inconsistencies.
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Since then, a video emerged of Kate and William at Windsor Farm Shop this past weekend that many have yet again called into question.
However, the man who filmed the footage, Nelson Silva, said it was absolutely the Prince and Princess of Wales in the video, telling outlets that he saw the royals with his own eyes.