Prince William and Harry’s cousin’s cause of death revealed

The cause of death of Prince William and Prince Harry’s cousin Rosie Roche has been revealed today.

The Durham University student was found dead at home in Wiltshire by her family at the age of just 20. 

The cause of death was recorded as a traumatic head injury and a firearm was found near to her body, the coroner has told MailOnline.

Rosie was discovered by close family members, believed to be her mother Pippa and sister Agatha at her family home in Norton.

‘There are no suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement’, the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner’s service said.

Emergency crews were pictured responding to a serious incident at the family home at around 1pm on Monday, July 14. An ambulance, three ambulance officers, two firearms officers and numerous local response officers were in attendance.

Rosie had been at home packing for a trip away with friends when she died, an inquest heard.

Her family have paid tribute to her, saying she was a ‘darling daughter’ to her parents Pippa and Hugh and an ‘incredible sister’ to Archie and Agatha.

A spokesman for the family said the 20-year-old ‘will be sorely missed’.

A spokesman for Prince William declined to comment. A spokesman for Prince Harry also declined to comment. 

Rosie was the granddaughter of Princess Diana’s uncle, the 5th Baron Fermoy, Edmund Roche, who killed himself in 1984 after suffering from a long bout of depression.

He was found dead aged just 45, from a gunshot at his home, Eddington House. His sister Frances was the mother of Princess Diana. 

Last February, Thomas Kingston, the husband of royal Lady Gabriella Windsor, died with a gun found near his body at his parents’ home in the Cotswolds. 

He died at his parents’ home after suffering a ‘catastrophic head injury. 

An inquest into Rosie Roche’s death at Wiltshire and Swindon coroner’s court was opened on Sunday and adjourned until October 25.

Coroner Grant Davies said police ‘have deemed the death as non-suspicious and there was no third-party involvement’.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said on July 14: ‘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.’

Ms Roche had been studying for a degree in English Literature at Durham University. 

An obituary published by 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.’

The death notice of Ms Roche also appeared in The Times newspaper. 

Durham University has paid tribute today. 

University College principal Professor Wendy Powers said Rosie had made a strong impression on both staff and students during her short time at Durham.

‘University College staff and students are extremely saddened by the tragic death of Rosie Roche,’ she said.

‘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.’

The student was a scion of the Barons Fermoy and the eldest child of (Edmund) Hugh Burke Roche, 53, and his wife the former Phillipa Kate Victoria Long.

Her grandfather was the 5th Baron Fermoy, Princess Diana’s uncle, who shot himself dead in 1984.

Last February, Thomas Kingston, royal Lady Gabriella Windsor’s husband, died from a head injury, with a gun found near his body at his parents’ home in the Cotswolds.

An inquest in January heard that he had been given several drugs to treat depression by a GP at the Royal Mews Surgery, a practice at Buckingham Palace, after having trouble sleeping following stress at work.

In the days leading up to his death, the former hostage negotiator turned financier had stopped taking any medication and toxicology tests showed caffeine and small amounts of sleeping tablet zopiclone in his system. 

The coroner found that he took his own life while ‘suffering adverse effects of medication he had recently been prescribed’. 

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