Rosie Roche, 20, a distant relative of Princes William and Harry, was discovered dead on July 14 at her family home in Norton, Wiltshire, The Sun said. A gun was said to have been found beside her. She was getting ready for a weekend break with friends before the fateful event. Her mother and sister made the discovery.
The authorities have also eliminated foul play. The Wiltshire and Swindon coroner, Grant Davies, who has been in charge of the case, has stated that there was no third party involved and declared that the death was non-suspicious. The inquiry has been opened but postponed until October 25.
Roche was the niece of Princess Diana’s uncle and had family connections to the British royal family. She was studying English Literature at Durham University, where she had gained respect and admiration. A university spokesperson stated that she ‘will be sorely missed’.
A family notice, which appeared in the Yorkshire Post on July 19, fondly remembered her: “Roche, Rosie Jeanne Burke. Passed away on Monday 14th July 2025,” it said. “Beloved daughter of Hugh and Pippa, amazing sister to Archie and Agatha, granddaughter to Derek and Rae Long.” It added that a family funeral would be held privately with no memorial service planned at present.
Rosie’s premature death follows just over a year since another royal tragedy. In February 2024, Thomas Kingston, Lady Gabriella Kingston’s husband and ex-boyfriend of Pippa Middleton was discovered dead from a gunshot at his parents’ house in the Cotswolds. He was aged 45.
