THE DUCHESS
Who is Olivia Henson, wife of Hugh Grosvenor and the Duchess of Westminster?
Olivia's new husband has been described as 'owning half of London'
OLIVIA Henson is living a life that fairy tales are made of, after marrying the Duke of Westminster.
Hugh Grosvenor was once dubbed "Britain's most eligible bachelor" but he has been swept off his feet by the new duchess and the couple are now married.
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Who is Olivia Henson and how old is she?
Olivia Henson was born on September 1, 1992, in London, which makes her 31 (as of June 2024).
During her childhood, she attended Marlborough College, the same school as the Princess of Wales.
The couple met in 2021 through friends and dated for two years.
The Duke of Westminster proposed to her at Eaton Hall, his sprawling family estate in Cheshire.
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Before he started dating Olivia, Hugh was in an on-off relationship with Harriet Tomlinson for several years.
The pair met at college and split up, only to get back together on numerous occasions.
When did Olivia Henson marry Hugh Grosvenor?
Announcing the wedding, a spokesperson for the pair said: “The couple have chosen the cathedral for both its beauty and long association with the Grosvenor family, including to the Duke personally.
"Cheshire is the Grosvenor family’s ancestral home and, as Miss Henson’s connection to the region continues to grow, they are keen to plan their wedding there.”
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The Duke's parents, the late 6th Duke of Westminster and Natalia Phillips, were also married at the cathedral on October 7, 1978.
Olivia's marriage to the Duke of Westminster took place on June 7, 2024,.
Inside the Lavish Life of Billionaire Hugh Grosvenor
Crowds roared as the happy couple shared their first kiss outside the cathedral.
Well-wishers had been lining the streets near the chapel for hours in advance the morning of the wedding, with dozens of police standing guard.
They waved frantically as the groom arrived.
Many held and wore the Union Jack with pride, while others donned their nicest outfits for the occasion.
Who attended the Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson's wedding?
Just like his mother and father's nuptials, Hugh and Olivia also welcomed members of the Royal Family to their wedding.
Prince William acted as usher and his cousin Princess Eugenie was also there.
Other guests included royal friend Charles van Straubenzee.
One person who was notably absent was Prince Harry.
In December 2023, it was reported how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were NOT on the guest list.
This is despite Hugh and Harry being childhood friends.
It's incredibly sad it has come to this - Hugh is one of very few close friends of William and Harry's who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both.
A friend of Prince Harry
Both William and Harry have the Duke of Westminster as godfather to their children - William and Kate's son Prince George as well as Harry and Meghan's son Prince Archie.
But sources told The Telegraph that the couple avoided inviting Harry and Meghan to what's been called "the wedding of the year" to avoid any potential awkwardness for the Royal Family.
Hugh had reportedly wanted the Sussexes to attend but decided against it.
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A friend was quoted as saying: "It's incredibly sad it has come to this - Hugh is one of very few close friends of William and Harry's who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both.
"He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realises it's unlikely to happen before the wedding.
"He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and doesn't want any awkwardness."
A spokesman for the Duke declined to comment, as did Buckingham Palace.
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Who was part of Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson's bridal party?
Olivia had three bridesmaids to help her on her big day.
Her bridal party was made up of her husband Hugh's three nieces.
The bride looked incredible in her wedding dress and veil have been designed by Emma Victoria Payne.
The bespoke embroidery design on the bridal gown and veil was hand drawn and reimagined by Emma Victoria Payne, incorporating floral motifs and edgings from Olivia’s great great grandmother’s veil from around 1880.
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What does Olivia Henson do for a living?
Olivia is an account manager for ethical food firm Belazu.
Based in London, the company is an environmentally friendly B-corp which imports high-quality artisan ingredients from Europe.
This ranges from rose harissa and preserved lemons to partridge, port and estate-shot venison.
Meanwhile, her husband-to-be is the head of a property empire that has swept up more than 1,500 buildings around the world.
His portfolio includes the entirety of Park Lane and half of Mayfair.
Because of this, Hugh is often described as owning "half of London."
He became a billionaire at the age of 25, after his father Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor died in 2016 of heart attack aged 64.
Hugh is quite low-key. He takes his roles very seriously but when he’s not working he’s relaxed.
A friend of the Duke
Hugh is the 7th Duke of Westminster, after his late father who was 6th.
Although he is the third child of Gerald and Natalia Grosvenor, ancient laws meant that as the first son, he inherited the bulk of the fortune over his older sisters.
Before becoming the 7th Duke of Westminster, he was known as Earl Grosvenor.
He went on to study at a small private school, Mostyn House in Cheshire, followed by Ellesmere College in Shropshire, and studied countryside management at Newcastle University.
Hugh's family rank as the 12th richest in the country, according to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2023.
According to The Times, friends have said of the Duke: "Hugh is quite low-key.
"He takes his roles very seriously but when he’s not working he’s relaxed."
Is the Duke of Westminster related to the royal family?
Hugh's father was the late Queen's 14th cousin once removed.
He was also considered a mentor to William at the request of Her Majesty.
Hugh is the fourth cousin once removed of King Charles.
In 2013, the Duke became the godfather to the Prince of Wales's eldest child, Prince George.
Meanwhile, Hugh's older sister Lady Tamara, 43, is married to Prince William's pal Edward van Cutsem.
The businessman and aristocrat is also godfather to William's son, Prince George, who is second in line to the throne. Hugh boasts a fortune of £10.1 billion.
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He inherited his title and control of his family's estate following his father's death in 2016.
His property company, Grosvenor Group, owns about 300 acres of land in Mayfair and Belgravia, as well as major city centre developments such as Liverpool's ONE shopping centre. The Duke is part of the royal inner circle.
Duke of Westminster's Properties
The Grosvenor family originally made their fortune from mining before turning their eye to the property world.
Hugh inherited an impressive property portfolio when his father passed away.
The Duke owns the entirety of London's Park Lane and half of Mayfair.
As well as this, the properties Hugh owns include:
- Eaton Estate - the 11,500-acre Grosvenor family home in Cheshire.
- Abbeystead - the 23,500-acre shooting estate in Lancashire.
- Finca La Garganta estate - the 37,000-acre plot in rural Cordoba near Seville, Spain.
- Reay Forest in Sutherland, Scotland.
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