If you’ve spent any time falling down the rabbit hole of British royal history, you’ve definitely seen the name Isabella Anstruther Gough Calthorpe. It’s a mouthful. Honestly, most people just call her Isabella Calthorpe, or "Bellie" if they’re in that inner circle of blondes and billionaires that seems to run London.
She is often flattened into a single, dramatic headline: The girl who rejected a future King. But that's a bit of a disservice, isn't it? Isabella is way more than just a footnote in the Prince William and Kate Middleton saga. She’s an actress, a mother, a member of the Branson empire by marriage, and a woman who—quite frankly—made a choice that almost no one else in her position would have made. She said no to the crown because she actually liked her life.
Why the World Obsesses Over Her
It’s 2026, and the obsession hasn't faded. You'd think with everything going on, a brief "almost-romance" from twenty years ago would be buried. Nope.
The fascination persists because Isabella represents the ultimate "what if." In the early 2000s, specifically during that infamous 2004 split between William and Kate, Isabella was the one. Royal experts like Katie Nicholl have basically made it clear: William was smitten. He didn't just have a crush; he was "besotted."
He reportedly propositioned her multiple times during a summer in Greece.
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Imagine that. You’re 24, a rising actress, and the future King of England is laying it on thick. Most people would be picking out hat designers for the wedding. Isabella? She looked at the goldfish bowl life of a royal and said, "I'm good, thanks."
She told him it would be too damaging for her career. She wanted to be an actress, not a professional waver. That kind of self-awareness is rare, especially in the upper echelons of the British aristocracy where "marrying up" is practically a sport.
The Acting Career Nobody Talks About
We focus so much on the men in her life that we forget Isabella actually has a resume. She didn't just sit around being beautiful. She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) from 2003 to 2005. That’s a serious school.
She did the work.
You might remember her in Stage Beauty (2004) or that weirdly addictive show Trinity, where she played Rosalind Gaudain. She also had a role in How to Lose Friends & Alienate People. She was talented, but let’s be real—being an "Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe" means the press is always going to care more about your guest list than your craft.
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A Family Tree That Looks Like a Map
If you look at her family tree, it’s basically a blueprint of the British elite.
- Father: John Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, a property magnate.
- Mother: Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon, a banking heiress and 60s "It girl."
- Half-Sister: Gabriella Wilde (another actress/model).
- Half-Sister: Cressida Bonas (yes, Prince Harry’s ex).
It’s a tangled web. The fact that her sister dated Harry while she was the "one who got away" for William is the kind of stuff scriptwriters reject for being too unrealistic. But in their world, it’s just Tuesday.
Life as a Branson
In 2013, Isabella married Sam Branson. If the name sounds familiar, yeah, his dad is Sir Richard Branson.
They didn’t do a quiet church wedding. They got married at a private safari lodge near Kruger National Park in South Africa. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were there. It was the social event of the year.
Marriage to Sam seemed to suit her way better than a royal title ever would. They have two kids now—Eva Deia and Bluey Rafe. Since becoming a Branson, Isabella has shifted away from the spotlight of the stage and more into the "Virgin family" vibe. She’s often seen supporting Sam’s various "Strive" challenges and philanthropic efforts.
She traded the stifling protocols of Buckingham Palace for the "barefoot billionaire" lifestyle of Necker Island. Honestly? Smart move.
The Kate Middleton "Rivalry"
Is there actually beef between Isabella and the Princess of Wales?
The tabloids love to say Kate was "green with envy" back in the day. There were reports that when Kate and William got back together, one of the conditions was that he couldn't talk to Isabella anymore.
But look at the evidence. Isabella was at the Royal Wedding in 2011. You don't invite your husband's "great love" to the Westminster Abbey wedding of the century if there’s still bad blood. They’ve moved in the same circles for two decades. By all accounts, the "rivalry" is a media invention designed to sell magazines.
Isabella in 2026: What's the Current Vibe?
Today, Isabella Calthorpe (or Isabella Branson, depending on who’s asking) is the picture of low-key British excellence. She’s 45 now. She isn't chasing Marvel roles or trying to be an influencer.
She seems to have mastered the art of being "famous-adjacent." She has the wealth, the access, and the prestige, but she can still walk down a street in London without being mobbed. She chose the path that offered the most freedom.
There’s a lesson in her story about knowing your worth outside of a title. She didn't need a prince to be relevant. She was already Isabella.
Next Steps for the Interested Reader
If you're looking to understand the complex social dynamics of this group, your best bet isn't the gossip columns. Look into the history of the Curzon family (her mother's side) to see how deep those aristocratic roots actually go. You can also track her sister Gabriella Wilde's career to see how the family's artistic streak has played out in the younger generation.
Finally, for a look at her current life, the Virgin Unite archives often feature the Branson family's philanthropic work, which Isabella is frequently involved in behind the scenes.