Prince William’s friend, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, is succeeded as Lord Great Chamberlain and has no chance of playing a major role at the coronation
- Marquess of Cholmondeley lost his job as Lord Great Chamberlain after King Charles III. became monarch
- He had to walk backwards in front of the monarch at the State Opening of Parliament while the Queen sat on the throne
- Now Charles is King, the job being taken over by the 7th Lord Carrington who was at Westminster Hall yesterday
- Full Coverage: Click here for our full coverage of the Queen’s death
advertisement
Prince William’s close friend, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, lost his job as Lord Great Chamberlain after King Charles III became monarch following the death of the Queen.
The Marquess, also known as filmmaker David Rocksavage, had the role of having to walk backwards in front of the monarch at the State Opening of Parliament while the Queen was on the throne.
Now that Charles has become monarch, the job will be taken over by the 7th Lord Carrington, whose late father served as Foreign Secretary to Margaret Thatcher.
David Rocksavage, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, with his wife, former model Rose Hanbury, in London in June 2016
Prince William and Kate with Rose Hanbury and David Rocksavage at a charity event in King’s Lynn, Norfolk in 2016
Queen Elizabeth II arrives with David Rocksavage for the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords in October 2019
Kate Middleton talks to Rose Hanbury (left) as she attends a charity event in King’s Lynn, Norfolk in 2016
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip follow David Rocksavage at the State Opening of Parliament in November 2007
The Prince and Princess of Wales greet David Rocksavage and Rose Hanbury at a charity event in King’s Lynn, Norfolk in 2016
David Rocksavage, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, with his wife, former model Rose Hanbury, in London in July 2015
William and Kate (centre foreground) walk alongside the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley at King’s Lynn in 2016
Yesterday Rupert Carington, 73, performed his first duties as he greeted the King and Queen consort Camilla as they arrived at Westminster Hall for His Majesty’s speech to Parliament.
He will play an important role in the coronation, which is expected to take place next year.
“David always knew he wouldn’t have the job for life,” one of his friends told the Chron. “It was an honor to do it as long as he did.”
David lost the role due to tradition that he would move to another noble family after the monarch’s death.
Rupert Carington (front), the 7th Lord Carrington, at Westminster Hall with King Charles III and Queen Camilla yesterday
The 7th Lord Carrington before King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla at Westminster Hall in London yesterday
The 7th Lord Carrington leads King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla through Westminster Hall in London yesterday
David and his wife, former model Rose Hanbury, now Marchioness of Cholmondeley, live near Anmer Hall, the country home of Prince William and Catherine in Sandringham, Norfolk.
Rose, 38, married Rocksavage in 2009. He is 24 years her senior and friends had all but given up hope that he would ever marry.
Rose soon produced an heir and surrogate in the form of twins Alexander and Oliver. Like Catherine, she has since given birth to a third child, Iris.
While Kate and William reside in the ten-bedroom Anmer Hall, previously rented to a wood chef, the Marquess and Marchioness live in splendor two miles away at Houghton Hall, one of the finest Palladian houses in the country, surrounded by 1,000 acres of parkland.