Prince Harry and Prince William’s cousin, 20, found dead with a ‘firearm nearby’

Rosie Roche, the 20-year-old second cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry, has been found dead at her family property, with a firearm discovered close by, an inquest has heard.

Ms Roche, the granddaughter of Princess Diana’s uncle Edmund Roche, died at her home in Norton, near Malmesbury in Wiltshire, on July 14.

She was reportedly found by her mother and sister while packing for a trip away with friends.
A firearm was located near her body at the scene.

The inquest was formally opened at Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner’s Court and adjourned until October 25.

According to The Sun, area coroner Grant Davies told the hearing police had “deemed the death as non-suspicious and there was no third-party involvement.”

Rosie had been studying English Literature at Durham University at the time of her death.

A spokeswoman said she “will be sorely missed”.

Born on June 21, 2005, Rosie was the eldest child of the Hon (Edmund) Hugh Burke Roche and his wife, Phillipa (Pippa) Roche.

She was the granddaughter of the late 5th Baron of Fermoy, the maternal uncle of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. 

It’s understood a private family funeral will be held for Rosie, with a memorial service to be held at a later date.

The heartbreaking news comes months after the death of Thomas Kingston, the husband of royal family member Lady Gabriella Kingston, who died by suicide in February 2024 at the age of 45.

An inquest later revealed Mr Kingston had suffered a “traumatic head wound” and that a firearm had been found near his body.

Lady Gabriella, 44, is the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

She married Mr Kingston in a high-profile royal wedding at St George’s Chapel in 2019, an event attended by the entire royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

It marked one of the final major public appearances the royal couple made together.

Mr Kingston’s death occurred just three months before what would have been the couple’s fifth wedding anniversary.

A coronial inquest was launched to investigate whether his mental state had been influenced by medication.

The inquiry concluded in January, finding that Mr Kingston had been experiencing “adverse effects of medication he had recently been prescribed.”

Lady Gabriella delivered a statement during the inquest, warning of the potential dangers linked to prescription medication and shedding light on the circumstances surrounding her husband’s final days.

“The fact that he took his life at the home of his beloved parents suggests the decision was the result of a sudden impulse,” she said.

“It appears to me Tom’s impulsive action was likely provoked by an adverse reaction to the medication he had been taking in the last two weeks of his life.”

The royal also reflected on her husband’s professional struggles, adding: “His working life was certainly a challenge for him over the years, but I highly doubt it would have led him to take his own life, and it seemed much improved.”

Source: Sky News
--Agencies