Kate Middleton attends church with 'rival' who was at center of cheating rumors

The Duchess of Cambridge stepped out publicly for the first time in 2020 to join Prince William for church in Sandringham on Sunday morning.

The parents-of-three greeted royal well-wishers at St. Mary Magdalene Church, which is located near the couple's Anmer Hall home. Also in attendance at this weekend's services was "rural rival" Rose Hanbury, who was photographed walking into the Norfolk service.

Hanbury, known as the Marchioness of Cholmondele, runs in the same social circle as the Duchess of Cambridge and made headlines last spring after reports alleged that Kate wanted her friend "phased out" after a "falling out." The reports sent rumors swirling, with Twitter quickly theorized that Prince William had cheated on Kate with Rose, although those allegations were swiftly denied.

"Both sides have considered legal action, but because none of the reports have been able to offer any evidence about what the so-called dispute is about, they have chosen to ignore it....These hurtful rumors of a fallout are simply false,” said royal reporter Richard Kay.

Despite the tabloids' false reports, it was reported that the couple had to "examine their relationship" after the speculation.

"Kate finds the rumors hurtful, obviously, and hates the thought that one day her children will be able to read about them online," a source said to Us Weekly. "It forced her and William to sit back and examine their relationship, which they realized they should have been doing more often."

In June, Hanbury, a former model, joined the royal family at a Buckingham Palace state banquet thrown for President Trump.