Rosie Roche, a cherished cousin to both Prince William and Prince Harry, tragically passed away at the tender age of twenty. Roche, who traced her lineage back to Princess Diana's uncle, met her untimely demise on Monday, July 14th, at her family's residence in Norton, Wiltshire. According to a report by The Sun, her body was discovered with a "firearm nearby."
The Sun further reported that her heartbroken mother and sister found her as she was in the midst of packing for a much-anticipated vacation with her friends. Within the confines of their home, a firearm was unfortunately discovered in close proximity.
A coroner from Wiltshire and Swindon has initiated an investigation into the matter, which has been postponed until October 25th, as per The Sun. Coroner Grant Davies revealed that the police have deemed the death as non-suspicious and confirmed the absence of any third-party involvement.
Roche, who was pursuing her studies in English Literature at Durham University, was a promising student. A spokesperson for the royal family expressed their profound sadness, stating that their cousin would be deeply missed.
In an obituary published by the Yorkshire Post on July 19th, family members fondly remembered her as a beloved daughter, sister, and granddaughter. "Roche, Rosie Jeanne Burke, passed away on Monday, July 14th, 2025," the obituary read. "Cherished daughter of Hugh and Pippa, wonderful sister to Archie and Agatha, and adored granddaughter of Derek and Rae Long." It further announced a private family funeral and promised a memorial service at a later date.
The news of this young woman's passing comes more than a year after the sudden death of Thomas Kingston, a British financier who was married to Lady Gabriella and had once been in a relationship with Pippa Middleton. Kingston, who passed away on February 25th, 2024, was described as a victim of "impulsive" and "unexpected" circumstances during a pre-inquest review by the BBC. He succumbed to a catastrophic head injury, and a gun was found near his body at his parents' home in the Cotswolds, as previously revealed by a spokesperson for the coroner's office to PEOPLE.
In December, Lady Gabriella, who is a second cousin to King Charles, broke her silence during an inquest at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court. She revealed the heart-wrenching circumstances surrounding her husband's death. In her emotional testimony, Lady Gabriella, 43, speculated that her late husband's "impulsive action" might have been triggered by medication he had been taking in the weeks prior to his untimely demise, according to The Telegraph.
