HUGH KNEW
Lavish life of billionaire Duke of Westminster, 33, who has a 150-bed pad, ahead of his wedding to Kate lookalike
The billionaire businessman is said to be one of the few people to stay close to both brothers amid their feud
HE was once dubbed Britain’s most eligible bachelor, but tomorrow billionaire Hugh Grosvenor will be walking down the aisle.
The Duke of Westminster, 33, is tying the knot with Olivia Henson, 31, at Chester Cathedral, and it’s set to be the society wedding of the year.
18
18
18
18
Included in the guest list is Prince William, who is set to have a starring role as usher.
Meanwhile, absent from the celebrations will be Prince Harry who, despite being close friends with Hugh - who is Prince Archie’s godfather - “agreed via phonecall” not to come to “avoid friction” with William.
Hugh’s wedding may have royalty in the audience, but his fortune actually eclipses that of Wiliam’s £1.05billion.
The Duke boasts an eye-watering fortune of £10.1billion, and here is what else we know about the aristocratic businessman…
More on the royals
OWNS 'HALF OF LONDON'
Hugh became a billionaire at the young age of 25, after his father Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor died in 2016 of heart attack aged 64.
Born on January 29, 1991, Hugh was the youngest son of Gerald and Natalia Phillips – who can trace her own lineage back to Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.
This left him head of a property empire that has swept up more than 1,500 buildings around the world.
The Grosvenor Group owns about 300 acres of land in Mayfair and Belgravia - which is why Hugh is often described as owning "half of London".
Most read in Royals
In addition to this, they own major city centre developments such as Liverpool's ONE shopping centre, Tokyo apartments, a “large chunk” of Silicon Valley and Annacis Island, off Vancouver.
£5MILLION BIRTHDAY
For Hugh's 21st birthday in 2012, his father spared no expense, hosting an eye-watering £5million celebration at Eaton Hall.
Prince Harry snubs Archie's godfather's wedding after 'challenges' were exposed
The event featured notable guests, including Prince Harry, and performances by comedian Michael McIntyre and hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks.
The 800 attendees enjoyed unlimited champagne and a spectacular light show at midnight. Reflecting on the event, Hugh described it as "simply amazing – a birthday and a party I will never forget," marking it as the start of a new chapter in his life.
18
18
18
18
OLYMPIC ATHLETE
Not only does he have a property empire, but Hugh is an Olympian and has represented the UK at skeet shooting.
This sport is a variation of clay shooting, where participants hit a moving target.
150-BED ESTATE
While he currently resides in London, following his wedding he is expecting to make his base with his new bride at his family’s 11,500-acre Eaton Hall.
The Cheshire-based mansion has been the home of the Grosvenor family since the 1440s and boasts over 150 bedrooms, large stables, and a chapel with a 183ft tower with 28 bells..
Bride-to-be Olivia told : "It's obviously a place where we will live, where we'll be building our lives together.
“And we're slowly transitioning to move up from London and be much more permanent here and really putting roots down.”
The family’s other homes include Reay Forest in Sutherland, Scotland, home to a raft of beautiful mountains and thousands of wild deer, the 23,500-acre Abbeystead shooting estate in Lancashire, a Park Lane townhouse in London.
The family also owns a townhouse on Park Lane in London and the Finca La Garganta estate, in rural Cordoba near Seville, Spain.
KATE MIDDLETON-LOOKALIKE FIANCE
18
18
With gorgeous brunette locks and passion for charity, it is no surprise that bride-to-be Olivia has been compared to the Princess of Wales.
She even went to the same school as Prince William’s wife, Marlborough College.
The happy couple met through friends in 2021, after two years of dating, the Duke proposed to Olivia at Eaton Hall, which is his sprawling family estate in Cheshire.
Olivia works for London-based food firm Belazu and is said to speak Italian and Spanish.
She will become the new Duchess of Westminster, once they are wed.
The extensive properties of Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster
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 in 2016.
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.
FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
Hugh is not only Prince Archie’s godfather, but also Prince George’s - due to his friendship with both Prince Harry and Prince William.
The billionaire businessman is said to be one of the few people to stay close to both brothers amid their feud.
In the past, the pair have stayed with Hugh and they’ve hunted wild boar and deer.
Hugh's father was the late Queen's 14th cousin once removed and a mentor to William at the request of Her Majesty, according to reports.
King Charles - who is undergoing chemotherapy following his recent cancer diagnosis - is Hugh's godfather, although he is not expected to attend the wedding.
18
18
18
18
18
LUXURY TRIPS
The Duke topped The Sunday Times Rich List for the under 40s when it was released on 17 May, with an estimated wealth of £10.127billion.
It is no surprise that we've seen Hugh enjoy some luxury holidays in the past.
In 2017, Hugh was pictured on a boat in Portofino with his pals and mother, Lady Natalia.
However, the Duke of Westminster is also philanthropic, and in April 2020, donated £12.5million to support the Government's response to the pandemic.
18
His parents reportedly wanted a 'normal' childhood for their children, due to the late Duke hating his time at posh boarding school Harrow.
They decided to send Hugh to small private primary school Mostyn House in Cheshire near the family’s home.
A friend previously said of him: “You’d never have known that his dad was a billionaire.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“He never flashed the cash although he would often put his hand in his pocket to buy a round of drinks.
“He’s a really down-to-earth bloke who never acted like a toff and is just a really good guy.”
18
18
Topics