A cousin of the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex has been found dead at her family home.
Rosie Roche, 20, the granddaughter of Princess Diana’s uncle, died at her home in Norton, near Malmesbury in Wiltshire, on July 14.
An inquest into her death was held on Monday at Wiltshire and Swindon coroner’s court.
It heard that the first-year student, who was studying English literature at Durham University, was found at the property by her mother and sister.
Roche had been packing her bags to go away with friends and a firearm was found nearby, it was said.
Grant Davies, the area coroner, said police “have deemed the death as non-suspicious and there was no third-party involvement”. The case has been adjourned until October 25.
Roche was the granddaughter of Edmund Roche, the late Lord Fermoy. His sister was Frances Shand Kydd, the mother of Princess Diana.
A death notice in the Yorkshire Post said: “Roche, Rosie Jeanne Burke. Died on Monday 14th July 2025. Darling daughter of Hugh and Pippa, incredible sister to Archie and Agatha, granddaughter to Derek and Rae Long.
“Private family funeral. A memorial service will be held at a later date.”
Prince William and Prince Harry, in 2022. Roche was their second cousin
MARTIN MEISSNER/AP
Professor Wendy Powers, the principal of University College at Durham University, said: “University College staff and students are extremely saddened by the tragic death of Rosie Roche.
“Rosie was a first-year student studying for an English Literature degree. Rosie had settled into the university and college beautifully and had lots of friends.
“She was loved for her creativity, energy, her love of books, poetry and travel among many other talents. She will be sorely missed.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with Rosie’s family and friends, and we are offering support to those affected at this extremely difficult time.”
At Durham University, Roche contributed to an arts and culture publication based in the northeast.
According to her LinkedIn, before going to university she had previously attended St Mary’s Calne, a girls’ independent boarding and day school in Wiltshire. The school has been contacted for comment.
Wiltshire police said at the time: “This relates to the sudden death of a woman in her 20s. There are no suspicious circumstances and our thoughts are with her family.
“We would ask that their privacy is respected at this terrible time.’’
Her death comes a year after Thomas Kingston, the husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor, the King’s second cousin, took his own life in February last year at his parents’ home after being prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a common type of antidepressant.
An inquest said Kingston, 45, who married Lady Gabriella in 2019, was found dead in the bathroom of an outbuilding of his parents’ Cotswolds home on February 25. He had killed himself with his father’s shotgun.
Princess Michael of Kent paid tribute to her son-in-law, saying he was “a lovely man, so kind and so thoughtful”, she added that the royal family “never had an inkling that anything was wrong”.