Inside the SUPER private life of JFK and Jackie Kennedy’s eldest granddaughter Rose Schlossberg

The Kennedy family are often referred to as America’s royals – and, as such, are the subjects of much public fascination and scrutiny. 

In the spotlight, they lead lives of glamour, wealth, and privilege that have been made all the more interesting to the world thanks to conspiracy theories surrounding family tragedies and deaths, as well as ties to Hollywood icons like Marilyn Monroe. 

The eldest granddaughter of late President JFK and his wife, First Lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis, made waves earlier this week, when she was photographed catching some waves at a popular surfing spot in Ventura, California. 

Her Kennedy heritage was clear for all to see in the photos – which revealed her striking resemblance to Jackie O. 

It was an incredibly rare sighting of Rose Kennedy Schlossberg, 34 – the first child of JFK and Jackie’s daughter, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, 64, and her longtime husband, artist Edwin Schlossberg, 77 – who has, for much of her adult life, remained largely out of the spotlight.

The Kennedys’ position as one of the country’s most scrutinized families shows no signs of waning – and their long-standing involvement in the top echelons of US politics seems destined to continue, courtesy of the youngest generation, with handsome Harvard graduate Jack Schlossberg now pursuing his own political ambitions, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, former President John F. Kennedy. 

But while Jack – and his author sister Tatiana – seem content to continue the family’s legacy of public-facing positions, their sibling Rose has quietly opted for a much more under-the-radar lifestyle, seemingly shunning the Kennedy dynasty’s celebrity, and indeed its political roots. 

Despite hailing from one of the most-famous families in the country, Rose has kept a semi-low profile in recent years – much unlike her younger siblings, Jack Kennedy Schlossberg, 29, and Tatiana Kennedy Schlossberg, 32. 

Yale University graduate Tatiana is now a successful journalist, writing for The New York Times, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, and Vanity Fair over the years, and she has even published her own book; she also dove into politics, often speaking out about climate change and environmental dangers through her pieces.

As for Jack, he also graduated from Yale before heading to Harvard Law for his masters. He too is a budding politician, and he previously worked for former Secretary of State John Kerry and spoke at the 2020 Democratic National Convention in support of President Biden.

While Tatiana and Jack have stepped into the world of politics, Rose has taken a different route. She first started her career off by working in Hollywood – launching her own online web series and serving as a production assistant on a few different shows.

However, in recent years, she traded her fame in for a much quieter life out of the spotlight. After dabbling in film for a number of years, she seemed to drop out of sight, settling down with her wife, filmmaker-turned-restaurateur Rory McAuliffe, 31.

As notoriously private Rose is seen for the first time in a while, FEMAIL has lifted a lid on her discreet life away from cameras.

From her close bond with her grandma Jackie and what it was really like to grow up a Kennedy to her achievements in production and sudden career change – here’s everything we know about JFK and Jackie’s eldest granddaughter. 

Her childhood: A look back at Rose’s early years and her tight bond with Grandma Jackie 

Rose was born in New York City on June 25, 1988, and was named after her great-grandmother, JFK’s mom, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy; and according to the New York Post, it was her grandma Jackie who picked the name.

Rose was reportedly quite close to her grandmother — whom she called ‘Grand Jackie’ — before her death in 1994, when she was five. 

‘Jackie, who lived just a few blocks away from the Schlossbergs on the Upper East Side, saw Rose basically every day and doted on her,’ Kennedy biographer Christopher Andersen once wrote. 

‘Jackie knew it was important to sow the seeds of good behavior early on, and she tried to do that in the final years of her life. It was a mission for her.’ 

As Rose grew older, she attended the pricey Brearley School on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where the tuition is currently $60,000 a year; other notable alumnae of the private institution include Téa Leoni, Kyra Sedgwick, Alexandra Daddario, Eva Chen, and her mother. 

Grandma Jackie once helped chaperone her school trip to the American Museum of Natural History, and was reportedly the only grandparent in the group. 

During her teen years, she was described by historian and family friend Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., who had been a speechwriter for JFK, as the ‘leader of the pack.’

‘Rose was and is the leader of the pack — her opinion counts,’ he said. ‘She is highly regarded within the ever-expanding [Kennedy] circle. In many respects, she is the face and future of the clan.’

Her college years: Inside Rose’s life at Harvard University, where she was caught partying with Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan

 After graduating from high school, Rose went on to earn an English degree from Harvard University in 2010.

During her time at the Ivy League school, Rose reportedly cultivated an interest in filmmaking and in fashion, and got involved in Harvard’s Project East Fashion Show – which spotlights Asian designers – serving as a member of the executive board and also walking the runway during the event.

And JFK’s granddaughter certainly got up to some college-antics while attending the school, as she made headlines in 2009 when she was caught partying alongside Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson after giving them a campus tour.

In 2006, the outlet Wonkett also obtained photos of then-18-year-old Rose smoking hookah, and two years later, Gawker published some more shots of her enjoying a rowdy night out.

She was also rumored to be dating Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger, a fellow Harvard student, while at the school.

Her career changes: How Rose eschewed politics to launch a career as a comedian and actress – before abandoning life in the spotlight to settle down with her wife, Rory

After Harvard, Rose went on to earn her master’s degree in interactive telecommunications from New York University.

Though she hasn’t been involved in politics in the same way as the other members of her family, Rose has supported the democratic party over the years, donating $350 to President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign and volunteering for Alan Khazei’s failed 2010 campaign for US Senate in Massachusetts. 

Plus, in 2014, then-President Barack appointed her to the board at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 

In a speech that year about the center, she said: ‘My grandparents believed that American civilization had come of age, and they transformed the White House into a stage for our nation’s greatest performing artists. 

‘They recognized that in order to demonstrate our full commitment to freedom, democracy, and the human spirit, our nation’s capital needed a world-class performing arts center. 

‘After my grandfather’s death, my grandmother, and my great aunts and uncles worked tirelessly to build and sustain this Center, and my generation is proud to continue their commitment to excellence.’ 

In 2016, she and her friend Mara Nelson-Greenberg started a joint web series called End Times Girls Club, which she co-starred in. It followed two young women who shared tips to surviving the apocalypse.

‘It came up as a response to seeing the way that New York responded to Hurricane Sandy, and how people were grossly underprepared — specifically, girls in damsel in distress mode,’ she told Mashable about the show.

‘I thought it would be interesting to create this world where girls have to be survivalists without compromising their cute factor.’ 

Rose tried her hand at various different production roles over the years. In 2011, she worked in the camera and electrical department for the documentary Prayer for a Perfect Season, and in 2013, she contributed to the lighting for the doc Flex is Kings.

She also acted in the 2015 movie Houses, and in 2017, she co-wrote and produced a docu-series called Time: The Kalief Browder Story for Spike TV. She also wrote, directed, and produced a short film called Small Gay Tragedy #1 earlier this year.

Rose tied the knot with her longtime girlfriend, Rory, back in May, and the wedding was attended by 300 close friends and family members, including her mother’s first cousin Maria Shriver, 66, former talk show host David Letterman, 75, singer Jimmy Buffet, 75, and How I Met Your Mother actor Jason Segal, 42, who is a neighbor. 

Rose’s wife co-owns a farm-to-table hot spot called Rory’s Place in Ojai, California, which she opened in February with her older sister, chef Meave McAuliffe, 36; Ojai’s laid back and artsy vibe is described as ‘a world away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.’

In a recent online interview with Remodelista, Rory was asked if she saw herself having any children with Rose, to which she answered, ‘I have a kid. It’s Rory’s Place.’