THREE CHEERS
Duke of Westminster & his bride share first kiss as husband and wife while usher William leads guests from cathedral
Details of bride's custom-made dress outlined below
THE Duke of Westminster and his bride wowed cheering crowds today as they shared their first kiss.
Hugh Grosvenor, 33, tied the knot with fiancee Olivia Henson, 31, in a lavish ceremony at Chester Cathedral.
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Prince William, who was an usher for the wedding, watched on with a smile as the happy couple left the chapel.
The Duke, who was once dubbed the UK's richest bachelor, is King Charles' godson, and the godfather of both Prince George and Archie.
Bride-to-be Olivia wowed crowds in a custom-made lace-edged satin wedding dress by designer Emma Victoria Payne.
A family statement revealed: "The bespoke embroidery design on the bridal gown and veil was hand drawn and re-imagined by Emma Victoria Payne, incorporating floral motifs and edgings from Olivia’s great great grandmother’s veil from around 1880."
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William, one of the first to arrive this morning, led glam guests into the ceremony.
The masses - surrounded by a ring of steel as cops monitored proceedings - gathered from the early hours to sneak a glimpse of the bride and groom as well as other famous arrivals.
After the ceremony, crowds roared as the couple shared their first kiss outside the cathedral.
And the perfect sunny day, with highs of a balmy 17C, couldn't be spoiled by Just Stop Oil protesters, who let off orange-coloured fire extinguishers after the ceremony.
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Cops quickly leapt into action to remove the eco-idiots.
Ahead of the star-studded ceremony Hugh beamed and waved at the masses when he arrived in a forest green Land Rover - similar to the late Prince Philip's.
He greeted the Dean of Chester, the Rev Dr Tim Stratford, at the entrance to the cathedral at 11.30am, around half-an-hour before the glamorous bride's arrival.
Dozens of well-wishers cheered as Olivia's dress and veil billowed in the wind when she made her way inside the church.
The dress featured floral motifs and edgings from Olivia's great great grandma's veil, which was worn in around 1880.
Her Faberge Myrtle Leaf Tiara has been in the Grosvenor family since it was created in 1906.
Inside the Lavish Life of Billionaire Hugh Grosvenor
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Who are the bride & groom?
Hugh Grosvenor was once dubbed "Britain's most eligible bachelor" owing to his billions in the bank and royal connections. But he has been swept off his feet by the duchess.
The 33-year-old is a British aristocrat and businessman.
He was born Hugh Richard Louis Grosvenor on January 29, 1991, to Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, and his wife Natalia Phillips.
He is close friends with royals, including Prince William, Prince Harry and Kate Middleton.
He studied at Newcastle University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Countryside Management.
Previously, 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.
Meanwhile, his now-wife Olivia Henson was born on September 1, 1992, in London, which makes her 31.
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 proposed to her at Eaton Hall, his sprawling family estate in Cheshire.
Their wedding was announced in April 2023 and she is now the new Duchess of Westminster.
Prince William was an usher at the wedding and was one of the first to arrive this morning - looking dapper in a pale blue waistcoat with a black jacket and dark grey tailored trousers.
His cousin Princess Eugenie was not far behind in a pleated green midi-dress and matching nude fascinator and heels.
Other guests included Charles van Straubenzee, who had Prince Harry as best man at his own wedding.
Harry was best pals with his brother Henry, who he called Henners, until his tragic death in a car crash in 2002.
Well-wishers lined the streets near the chapel for hours in advance this morning, 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 best ensembles for the occasion.
Wills was an usher at the wedding, while Prince Harry was said to have agreed not to attend to avoid clashes with his brother amid their rift.
The King and Princess Kate were said to have been invited to the big day, too, but it's understood they didn't attend due to their health.
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Stunning Olivia's custom-made wedding dress
Olivia Henson’s 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.
Olivia is wearing the Faberge 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.
She is carrying a bouquet of flowers, picked from the Easton Hall gardens, comprising Meadow grass, Ox eye daisies, Iris, Rose, Clematis, Mock orange, Scabious, Sweet pea, Astrantia, Martagon lily and Love in a mist.
The dress was constructed in ivory silk crepe satin, ivory silk organza with bespoke embroidered detailing. Featuring a scalloped edge neckline with a delicate bespoke hand appliquéd embroidery comprising of floral and leafy motifs.
The bespoke embroidery design was hand drawn and reimagined by EVP incorporating floral motifs and edgings from Olivia’s great great grandmothers veil circa 1880.
A sleek silhouette with a bias cut skirt, pleated waistband, gathered sleeves, wide embroidered silk organza cuffs with a scalloped edge repeat motif and button detailing.
The back of the bridal gown features a dropped waist, key hole back and scalloped edging embroidery embellishments fastening with rouleau loops. It features a detachable 2m silk crepe satin train with a panelled construction.
Olivia’s exquisite EVP bespoke waterfall veil features intricate bespoke and personalised embroidery. Graduating motifs of cascading scalloped edges and incredibly delicate floral motifs with foliage and scrolls adorn the design.
Each original antique motif from Olivia’s family veil was hand drawn and reimagined into a new repeat pattern of graduating scalloped edges and oval shapes to reflect Olivia’s engagement ring setting. Personalised initials and wedding date complete the design in the centre back.
- Grosvenor family
William and Harry have always had a close relationship with Hugh, and were both ushers at his sister's wedding in 2004.
And while it's reported Harry would have loved to have been there for Hugh's big day - he snubbed the event after "challenges" came to light.
A source close to the Sussexes told magazine: "There was an acknowledgement on both sides that it would be difficult for Harry to attend.
"It was an understanding between the two friends.
"The decision certainly avoided the inevitable clamour had estranged brothers Prince William and Prince Harry both attended the nuptials, eliminating the possibility of the big day being overshadowed for the couple."
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The wedding, which appeared to have taken inspiration from Wills' and Kate's in 2011, was set to be a lavish event.
The private ceremony saw around 400 guests file into the church, before they headed back to Eaton Hall for the reception.
It was announced yesterday that the hundreds of well-wishers who line the streets near the chapel will be given free ice cream.
It's not known how much is being spent on the lavish occasion, but it's expected to be a decent fortune.
How Duke & fiancee's day is inspired by Kate
THE Duke of Westminster is tying the knot with his fiancee today - in a wedding that's taken inspiration from Princess Kate's big day.
Hugh Grosvenor, 33, is marrying Olivia Henson, 31, at Chester Cathedral, and it’s set to be the society wedding of the year.
The Duke, who was once dubbed the UK's richest bachelor, is King Charles' godson, and the godfather of both Prince George and Archie.
Prince William is set to be an usher at the wedding, while Prince Harry was said to have agreed not to attend to avoid clashes with his brother amid their rift.
The King and Princess Kate were said to have been invited to the big day, too, but it's understood they won't due to their health.
But it could feel like the Princess of Wales is there in spirit - the couple appear to have drawn decorative inspiration from when she and Wills wed in 2011.
Snaps of preparations at Chester Cathedral show van loads of flowers being brought in, with scaffolding surrounding parts of the church.
Workers could be seen hauling trees towards the venue, while bouquets of flowers lined the streets nearby.
The happy couple are said to have ordered 10,000 flowers in for the occasion, which 400 of their nearest and dearest will attend.
The greenery mirrors that of Kate and Wills' wedding, where they filled Westminster Abbey with trees.
Six field maple trees and two hornbeams lined the isle and sat near the altar for the Royal wedding.
Kate was also said to have brought in nearly 30,000 flowers for the wedding.
The Duke of Westminster is said to have paid to have 10,000 flowers planted throughout the city for the occasion - and they're all 100% British.
For his 21st birthday in 2012, Hugh's father splashed a whopping £5million on a bash.
The Duke became a billionaire at the young age of 25, after his father Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor died in 2016 of heart attack aged 64.
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".
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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.
He and Olivia met through friends in 2021, after two years of dating, the Duke proposed to her 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.
A spokesperson for him and Olivia this morning said: “The Duke and Miss Henson have taken a great deal of care in planning the wedding, putting their own personal stamp on all the arrangements and have made a conscious effort to involve local and regional suppliers in several aspects of the day.
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"This is an incredibly special day for the Duke and Miss Henson and they are very much looking forward to the service.
"The couple have also been moved by the messages of support they have received from around the region and are hugely grateful that people want to share in their happiness."
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