Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, sends handwritten thank you note to fan who sent her a birthday card and says she's grateful for her 'forty happy years of life so far'

The Marchioness of Cholmondeley sent a 'lovely' handwritten reply to a fan who sent her a birthday card earlier this year.

Instagram account @theroyalmailbox, which shares their correspondence with royals and socialites, shared a photo of the note sent over by Rose Hanbury - whose birthday was last month. 

'Dear [redacted],' the message read. 'Thank you so much for sending me a lovely note for my birthday.

'I feel very fortunate to have had forty happy years of life so far... and hope there will be many more to come!

'I hope you are equally well and send my best wishes and thanks.  Rose C.'

The fan revealed that it was their 'first time' writing to the Marchioness, who sent back a 'beautiful handwritten card that features a portrait of her home, Houghton Hall'.

The Marchioness of Cholmondeley sent a 'lovely' handwritten reply to a fan who sent her a birthday card earlier this year. Pictured in 2019

According to the post, the birthday card was sent on February 25, and a reply was received on April 3.

Rose and her husband, David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, 63, have a warm friendship with the Prince and Princess of Wales, who live just a few miles in their Norfolk retreat, Anmer Hall.

The Marquess and Marchioness married at Chelsea Town Hall in 2009, following a very brief engagement. 

They share twin boys Alexander, Earl of Rocksavage, and Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, both 13, and a younger daughter, Lady Iris, seven.

Rose, who boarded at Stowe and has a degree from the Open University, had a modelling career and worked as a researcher for Michael Gove.

Rose's grandmother Lady Rose Lambert was a bridesmaid in Queen Elizabeth's wedding to Prince Philip in 1947.

Since, she and the Wales's have teamed up to host a gala dinner in support of East Anglia's Children's Hospices' nook appeal in 2016 and Rose even sat next to Prince Harry at the Spanish state dinner at Buckingham Palace in 2017.

Rose's son, Oliver, was recently one of the pages at King Charles's Coronation alongside Prince George.

The Marquess and Marchioness married at Chelsea Town Hall in 2009, following a very brief engagement. Pictured in 2015

Instagram account @theroyalmailbox , which shares their correspondence with royals and socialites, shared a photo of the note sent over by Rose Hanbury - whose birthday was last month

According to the post, the birthday card was sent on February 25, and a reply was received on April 3

Rose's son, Oliver, was recently one of the pages at King Charles's Coronation in alongside Prince George. The couple pictured during the Coronation

Rose and her husband, David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, 63, have a warm friendship with the Prince and Princess of Wales, who live just a few miles in their Norfolk retreat, Anmer Hall. Pictured in 2016

David is a descendant of England's first prime minister, Robert Walpole, and a former page to the Queen.

He is also descended from both the Rothschilds and the Sassoons.

Like many members of his family and the British aristocracy, Marquess Cholmondeley was educated at Eton College and later took classes at the Sorbonne University in Paris.

He became Marquess of Cholmondeley in March 1990 on the death of his father. 

David was Lord Great Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth, in which ceremonial role he walked backwards before the monarch on state occasions.

The one-time film-maker had established a lively and well-connected social life by the time he married in his 40s.

Houghton Hall, their home, is one of the country's finest Palladian houses, surrounded by 1,000 acres of parkland.

Although he is no longer the Lord Great Chamberlain,  King Charles has appointed the Marquess as his Lord-in-Waiting — position that will see him attend important state and royal occasions, as well as being called upon to represent His Majesty at various events.