Rosie Jeanne Burke Roche, 20, a distant relative of Princes William and Harry, has died from a gunshot wound at her family residence in Norton, Wiltshire. Authorities say her death is not being treated as suspicious.
Although initially shared in an obituary published in the Yorkshire Post, the news gained broader attention following the launch of an official inquest at the Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner’s Court earlier this week.
According to Area Coroner Grant Davies, Roche’s body was discovered by her mother and sister while she was packing for a vacation with friends. A firearm was recovered near her body. Police confirmed there was no indication of involvement by any third party.
Davies later told The Independent that the 20-year-old died from a “traumatic injury to the head,” and suicide has not been ruled out. The investigation continues, with the inquest adjourned until October 25.
Roche was the granddaughter of Edmund Hugh Burke Roche, 5th Baron Fermoy, and connected to the royal family through the Spencer-Roche bloodline. She had recently completed her first year studying English Literature at Durham University.
The university issued a heartfelt tribute, describing her as “creative, bright, and deeply missed by everyone who knew her.”