The smile of a billionaire bride! Duke of Westminster’s new wife Olivia Henson beams in official photos from the society wedding of the year that starred Prince William as an usher
The Duke of Westminster’s new wife Olivia Henson glows in official photos released from the society wedding of the year.
Billionaire aristocrat Hugh Grosvenor, 33, married Miss Henson, 31, at Chester Cathedral yesterday. The couple announced their engagement in April last year after two years together.
Prince William also attended the ceremony to perform his duties as an usher, but his brother Harry, also one of Hugh Grosvenor’s closest friends, did not go and chose to remain in California.
The Duke of Westminster is the godfather of William’s son Prince George and Harry’s son Archie.
Olivia Henson in her custom-made dress
The Duke and Duchess of Westminster at their wedding in Chester
The bridal veil was designed by Emma Victoria Payne and featured an embroidery design incorporating floral motifs from Mrs Henson’s great-great-grandmother’s veil from about 1880.
Her dress was made by the same designer and she was accessorized with blue shoes and the Faberge Myrtle Leaf Tiara, made for Grosvenor brides to wear on their wedding day, which has been in the family since 1906.
A floral arch was built around the enormous west door of the 1,000-year-old cathedral in the heart of the city.
And as many as 100,000 flowers were planted across the city – all paid for by the Duke – which will be donated to charity now that the ceremony is over.
Everything almost went wrong yesterday around 12.30pm when two silver-haired Just Stop Oil fanatics tried to ruin the joyous occasion by spraying powder paint with fire extinguishers in the direction of the wedding party, which was also attended by the Prince of Wales. Chester Cathedral.
The demonstrators were quickly removed from the crowd by police as onlookers booed. They were named by JSO as Polly, 73, a healthcare worker from Norfolk, and Sheila, 69, a former NHS nurse from Bristol.
After the ceremony ended at around 1pm, around 400 guests, including Princess Eugenie and TV producer Phil Redmond, left the venue in coaches to attend a lavish reception at the Grosvenor family seat, Eaton Hall, just outside Chester.
The bride in her car taking her to the wedding
The happy couple walks away from the church surrounded by family
Olivia Henson has arrived for her wedding to the Duke of Westminster at Chester Cathedral
The Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson kiss after getting married at Chester Cathedral
Eaton Hall in Cheshire, the seat of the Duke of Westminster. About 400 guests attended a wedding reception at the luxurious home
The Duke of Westminster and his bride Olivia leave Chester Cathedral today after their wedding
Prince William, who inaugurated the ceremony, and William van Cutsem after the wedding of Olivia and his old friend Hugh
A spokesperson for the Duke and Mrs Henson said they had ‘put their own personal stamp on all the arrangements’, ranging from the flowers to the food.
In one major twist, however, the Duke of Westminster eschewed the traditional English service popular with aristocratic couples. As a result, the service at Chester Cathedral, attended by Prince William and Princess Eugenie, was in contemporary language rather than 17th century English.
Most Church of England weddings use the words from Common Worship’s The Marriage Service, which offers a wider choice of readings and prayers. But some couples prefer a ceremony that uses language like “you” and “thou” instead of “thou” and may use the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.
The Dean of Chester, the Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford, told MailOnline that the couple had a ‘contemporary’ service, rather than using the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, which contains the rule against marriage: ‘lightly, or wantonly, to gratify the carnal lusts and desires of men, as brute beasts that have no understanding.’
The dean, who is officiating the wedding, added: “In many ways this is just like any other couple getting married, just on a bigger scale because they are somewhat in the public eye and some of their guests are certainly in the are in the public eye.
‘The couple at the center of this want to declare their eternal love for each other in the presence of witnesses, family and friends and we are here to provide the stage.’
In addition, there is also an updated version of the 1662 service, known as Alternative Services: Series One, which was used by the Prince and Princess of Wales for their wedding.
A bridesmaid and the bride’s mother struggle to keep Olivia’s veil in the wind
Prince William after leaving the wedding of Olivia and his long-time friend Hugh
The groom’s sisters, Lady Viola Grosvenor and Lady Edwina Grosvenor (left) attend the wedding of the Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson
The Duke of Westminster and his wife Olivia leave their wedding ceremony at Chester Cathedral
Olivia and her husband, the Duke of Westminster, leave their wedding ceremony at Chester Cathedral
The Duke of Westminster, commonly known as ‘Hughie’ to aristocratic friends, is estimated to be worth £10.42 billion, making him the richest man under the age of 40 in Britain.
Meanwhile, his bride, who grew up in London and Oxfordshire, has worked in the sustainable food and drink industry.
Mrs Henson traveled to the cathedral with her father in a vintage Bentley, originally made for the car manufacturer’s founder in 1930.
The service was sung by the Chester Cathedral Choir, accompanied by a group of musicians from North West England.
The Bishop of Chester, the Right Rev. Mark Tanner, also preached and prayers were led by the Rev. Canon Rosie Woodall.