The Duke of Westminster has lost his unofficial title, “Britain’s most eligible bachelor”, after marrying Olivia Henson.
Hugh Grosvenor, 33, who ranked 14th on the 2024 Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated fortune of Ā£10.1bn, has made his bride a duchess after marrying her at Chester Cathedral on Friday.
The largely private couple only made their first public appearance together last month, but their wedding has been one of the most prestigious social events of the year, with esteemed guests such as Prince William attending.
The duke arrived at the ceremony in a green Land Rover and waved to crowds who were waiting in the streets outside the cathedral.
Miss Henson travelled to her wedding with her father Rupert Henson in a vintage Bentley that was originally made for W.O. Bentley, the founder of Bentley Motors, in 1930.
Thousands lined the streets of Chester to catch a glimpse of the event from early in the morning, with many bringing camping chairs and picnics.
It was already packed when the Prince of Wales,an usher at the wedding, arrived at the cathedral at about 10.30am – so much so that he entered the cathedral through a side entrance to avoid being seen.
Later on around 400 guests, including Princess Eugenie, were brought to the venue in coaches.
After the ceremony, the Duke and Duchess of Westminster travelled back to Eaton Estate, which has been home to the Grosvenor family since the 1400s, where they are hosting a private wedding reception for guests.
Who is the new Duchess of Westminster?
The 31-year-old had been with the duke for two years when the pair announced their engagement in April 2023.
Much like her husband, the duchess largely stays out of the public eye. What we do know is she’s a senior accounts manager at Belazu, an ethical food company based in London, and she was introduced to the duke through mutual friends.
She is widely reported to have studied at Marlborough College – the same as the Princess of Wales and Pippa Middleton.
‘Britain’s most eligible bachelor’
The duke became an instant billionaire when
he inherited his title and control of the historic Grosvenor Estate aged 25 following the death of his father from a heart attack in 2016.
As part of the estimated Ā£10bn estate, the duke, previously known by his honorary title Earl Grosvenor, also inherited Eaton Hall in Cheshire – home to the Grosvenor family since the 15th century.
It’s where his notably casual engagement photo with his then fiance was taken last year.
The duke, a former student of countryside management at Newcastle University, is one of four children: He has two older sisters, Lady Tamara and Lady Edwina, and one younger sister Lady Viola.
He inherited his father’s fortune despite not being the eldest of them as legitimate male heirs take precedence over their older sisters when it comes to inheriting an estate.
The property company he inherited, the Grosvenor Group, owns about 300 acres of land in Mayfair and Belgravia in central London, as well as major city centre developments such as Liverpool’s ONE shopping centre and properties in the US and Canada.
The billionaire, who was widely dubbed Britain’s most eligible bachelor after inheriting the fortune, is chair of both the Grosvenor Trustees and the Westminster Foundation, which represents his and the Grosvenor Group’s charitable interests.
Peoplesmind