Family Grieves as Rosie Roche, 20, Found Dead at Wiltshire Home
The British royal family just faced another heartbreak. Rosie Roche, a 20-year-old cousin to Prince William and Prince Harry, was discovered dead in her family's Norton, Wiltshire house on July 14, 2025. Her mother, Phillipa, and sister, Agatha, found her as they were getting ready for Rosie’s trip with friends. The coroner has already opened an inquest, confirming a firearm was found close to her body. However, after a review, authorities said there was no foul play, which means no one else was involved in her death.
Rosie was not a well-known figure in the public’s eye, but her connections run deep in the royal family. She was the granddaughter of Edmund Roche, 5th Baron Fermoy—Princess Diana’s uncle—who himself died in 1984. With her sudden death, attention is again focused on the family’s long and complex history.
The Wiltshire coroner stated the circumstances were "non-suspicious," so detectives have stepped back. That hasn't dulled the shock for the Roche family and the broader circle of relatives and friends. Rosie was just beginning her adult life. She studied English Literature at Durham University and had plans for the summer like any other university student. Those ordinary plans were cut short without warning, and her family and friends say they are devastated.
Her passing comes just a few years after the 2019 death of Thomas Kingston, another figure with royal connections. He was the husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor, and his case also attracted public interest when the inquest explored the possible mental health impacts of medication.
A Private Goodbye for the Roche Family
Rosie leaves behind her parents Hugh and Pippa Roche, her siblings Archie and Agatha, and an extended family feeling the weight of this unexpected loss. The family decided on a private funeral, shutting out the press and the wider public to grieve in peace. Still, a larger memorial service is being planned—one that might draw more royal attention and, likely, a wave of condolences from both family friends and people who’ve followed royal news for decades.
For the time being, the investigation pause means few answers will be forthcoming before the inquest resumes in October. Coronial inquests in the UK can often take months, aiming for a full explanation but mindful of the privacy needs for suffering families. Meanwhile, Rosie’s death stirs up memories of the challenges and tragedies that have quietly marked Britain’s aristocratic families for generations.
The coroner’s office says they have no evidence suggesting anyone else was involved or that any suspicious circumstances caused the death. It’s scant comfort for those left behind, but it’s a grim reminder: even those seemingly distant from the public glare can bear hidden struggles. For now, all anyone can do is wait for more answers—and hope for some comfort for a family that’s lost one of its own much too soon. The keyword Rosie Roche may now mark a chapter the family could not have anticipated, echoing through Britain’s ever-watchful royal community.