All The Details of the Duke of Westminster’s Wedding to Olivia Henson
It is without a doubt the society wedding of the year. The billionaire Duke of Westminster wed Olivia Henson at midday in Chester, north west England today, in a ceremony with Prince William as an usher. Here are all the details of the wedding.
The Couple
Hugh Grosvenor, 33, became Duke of Westminster on his father’s death in 2016. He has been busy heading up the family’s multi-billion-pound property empire Grosvenor Group, and has overhauled charitable organization the Westminster Foundation to focus on helping young people. Hugh has also earned significant sporting achievements, representing Team Great Britain at Olympic Skeet Shooting.
Hugh and Olivia, 31, met through friends two years ago and became engaged at his home Eaton Hall in Cheshire early last year. Olivia grew up in London and Oxfordshire and attended Marlborough College, the same school as Kate Middleton. After studying Hispanic Studies and Italian at Trinity College, Dublin, she has built a career working in the sustainable food sector.
Last month, Olivia told Town & Country that they plan to live and build their lives in Chester after the wedding.
The Venues
Ancient Chester Cathedral in the heart of the city was a natural choice of location for the couple to say I do. The cathedral dates back to 1093 and has had links to the Grosvenor family since the 12th Century. Hugh’s sister Lady Tamara was married there in 2004, and a memorial service for Hugh’s father, the 6th Duke of Westminster, was held there in 2016.
After the wedding there will be a private reception at Eaton Estate, which is on the outskirts of Chester and home to the Grosvenor family since the 1400s. The 11,000-acre estate consists of property Eaton Hall as well as gardens, farmland and woodland.
The Dress
Olivia’s bespoke ivory silk crepe satin dress and veil were designed by Emma Victoria Payne, and incorporated floral motifs and edgings from Olivia’s great great grandmother’s veil from around 1880.
The Tiara
Olivia wore the Fabergé Myrtle Leaf Tiara made for Grosvenor brides to wear on their wedding day. It has been in the Grosvenor family since its creation in 1906.
It was the same Tiara worn by Hugh’s older sister Tamara on her wedding day in 2004.
The Bridal Party
The Duke chose three of his best friends as his best men. He has around 10 ushers, including Prince William, who arrived in a black van at 10:30 a.m. local time.
The bridesmaids are Hugh’s three nieces: his sister Tamara’s daughter Isla and Edwina’s daughters Zia and Orla.
The Flowers
A spokesperson for the family described the flowers as 100% British and said the couple had chosen “seasonal flowers sourced from local growers through the ‘Flowers from the Farm’ network, which champions artisan growers.” Designed by London-based floral studio Flower & Press, the floral arrangements include rambling roses, philadelphus, campanula and orlaya grandiflora. Birch trees lined of the Cathedral.
“After the wedding, the flowers will be repurposed, with all possible flowers made into bouquets and delivered to local charities, churches and organisations, including those with whom the Grosvenor family have a close association,” a spokesman said. "The birch trees will be relocated to the Eaton Estate.”
Olivia’s bouquet of flowers, picked from the Easton Hall gardens, was made up of Meadow grass, Ox eye daisies, Iris, Rose, Clematis, Mock orange, Scabious, Sweet pea, Astrantia, Martagon lily and Love in a mist.
The Service
The Dean of Chester, the Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford, lead and officiated the wedding service. The Bishop of Chester, the Right Revd Mark Tanner preached and Revd Canon Rosie Woodall lead prayers. Music was provided by Chester Cathedral Choir accompanied by a group of musicians from north west England.
The Transport
Olivia arrived at the service with her father Rupert Henson in a vintage Bentley which was provided by the Heritage Collection of Bentley Motors in Crewe. A spokesperson said the car was originally made for W.O. Bentley, the founder of Bentley Motors, in 1930.
Many of the 400 guests were transported to the service in coaches which drove past the crowds in Chester before dropping guests at the Cathedral’s side door.
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