PRINCE William has arrived at what has been dubbed the society wedding of the year – where the heir will be the usher.
Hugh Grosvenor, 33, is marrying Olivia Henson, 31, in Chester Cathedral at noon today.
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The star-studded event is set to bring out royals and high-profile guests.
Prince William was one of the first to arrive this morning – looking dapper in a suit.
Supporters had already begun lining up in the streets near the chapel this morning, with dozens of police officers standing guard.
Hugh, who was once considered the richest bachelor in the United Kingdom, is the godson of King Charles and godfather of Prince George and Archie.
Wills will be the usher at the wedding, while Prince Harry has reportedly agreed not to attend to avoid clashing with his brother amid the row.
The King and Princess Kate were also invited to the big day, but it is understood they will not be making it due to their health.
Wills and Harry have always had a close relationship with Hugh and both hosted his sister’s wedding in 2004.
And while it’s reported that Harry would have loved to be present for Hugh’s big day – he was snubbed after “challenges” came to light.
A source close to the Sussexes said People magazine: “There was a recognition 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 outcry that would have been inevitable if estranged brothers Prince William and Prince Harry had attended the nuptials, eliminating the possibility of the big day being overshadowed for the couple.”
The wedding, which appears to be inspired by Wills and Kate’s 2011 wedding, will be a lavish affair.
The private ceremony will see around 400 guests enter the church, before returning to Eaton Hall for the reception.
It was announced yesterday that the hundreds of supporters lining the streets near the chapel will receive free ice cream.
There is also expected to be an extensive list of A-list guests.
It’s unknown how much is being spent on the lavish occasion, but it’s expected to be a decent fortune.
On his 21st birthday in 2012, Hugh’s father spent a whopping £5million on a party.
The Duke became a billionaire at the age of 25 after his father, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, died in 2016 of a heart attack at the age of 64.
Hugh was the youngest son of Gerald and Natalia Phillips – whose lineage goes back to Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.
This left him at the head of a real estate empire that has now swept more than 1,500 buildings around the world.
How the Duke and Bride’s Day Is Inspired by Kate
By Jane Matthews
The Duke of Westminster will marry his fiancée today – in a wedding inspired by Princess Kate’s big day.
Hugh Grosvenor, 33, will marry Olivia Henson, 31, at Chester Cathedral, and it will be the social wedding of the year.
The Duke, who was once considered the richest bachelor in the United Kingdom, is the godson of King Charles and godfather of Prince George and Archie.
Prince William will host the wedding, while Prince Harry has reportedly agreed not to attend to avoid clashing with his brother amid their disagreement.
The King and Princess Kate were also invited to the big day, but it is understood they will not be making it due to their health.
But it may seem like the Princess of Wales is there in spirit — the couple appears to have been inspired by the decor when she and Wills got married in 2011.
Photos of preparations at Chester Cathedral show a van loaded with flowers being brought in, with scaffolding surrounding parts of the church.
Workers could be seen transporting trees towards the site, while bouquets of flowers lined nearby streets.
The happy couple is said to have ordered 10,000 flowers for the occasion, which will be attended by 400 of their nearest and dearest.
The vegetation mirrors that of Kate and Wills’ wedding, where they filled Westminster Abbey with trees.
Six maple trees and two hornbeams lined the island and stood near the altar for the royal wedding.
It is also said that Kate brought almost 30,000 flowers to the wedding.
The Duke of Westminster is said to have paid for 10,000 flowers to be planted across the city for the occasion – and they are all 100% British.
The Grosvenor Group owns around 300 acres of land in Mayfair and Belgravia – which is why Hugh is often described as owning “half of London”.
In addition, they own large developments in the city center, such as Liverpool’s ONE shopping center, apartments in Tokyo, a “large part” of Silicon Valley and Annacis Island, near 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 family’s sprawling estate in Cheshire.
Olivia works for London-based food company Belazu and is said to speak Italian and Spanish.
She will become the new Duchess of Westminster once they get married.
A spokesperson for him and Olivia said this morning: “The Duke and Miss Henson took great care in planning their wedding, putting their personal stamp on all the preparations and made a conscious effort to involve local and regional suppliers in various aspects of the wedding. day.
“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 touched by the messages of support they have received from across the region and are extremely grateful that people want to share their happiness.”
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