Tragic Loss: Young Royal Relative Found Dead at Family Home
A 20-year-old relative of Princes William and Harry has been found dead at her family’s home in Wiltshire, with a firearm discovered nearby, according to inquest details shared on Sunday.
Rosie Roche, the granddaughter of Princess Diana’s uncle, was discovered on July 14 by her mother and sister while she was preparing for an upcoming trip with friends. Authorities confirmed a firearm was found close to her body, but investigators have ruled out any third-party involvement. The incident has been deemed non-suspicious.
Area coroner Grant Davies, speaking at the Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner’s Court, confirmed the official inquiry into Rosie’s death will continue, with the full inquest scheduled for October 25.
Rosie, who was pursuing a degree in English Literature at Durham University, has been described as a beloved student who “will be sorely missed.”
The tragedy draws unfortunate parallels to the death of another extended royal family member, Thomas Kingston—husband to Lady Gabriella, a cousin of the princes—who passed away in February 2024. Kingston, 45, was found with a fatal head wound and a gun nearby at an outbuilding on his parents’ property in the Cotswolds. That death was also deemed not suspicious.
Kingston, a former financier and hostage negotiator, had previously survived harrowing experiences, including a deadly church bombing in Iraq in 2004. Reflecting on his past, Reverend Canon Andrew White recalled Kingston’s calm presence during crisis moments, saying, “He told us to pray… and moments later, a nearby tanker exploded. That traffic jam saved our lives.”
Both losses have left deep emotional scars on those close to the individuals and reignited conversations around mental health, even among those who appear to lead privileged or stable lives.