PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle are said to have ruined the Duke of Westminster’s wedding, a royal expert has said.
Hugh Grosvenor, 33, today married fiancee Olivia Henson, 31, in a lavish ceremony at Chester Cathedral.
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The happy couple smiled as they left the chapel before kissing as thousands of people applauded.
Crowds lined the streets for hours to try and catch a glimpse of the couple on their big day, which was dubbed the social wedding of the year.
Not even the green jobs of Just Stop Oil, who released an orange fire extinguisher near the church, got in the way of Hugh and Olivia’s big day.
But royal commentator Katie Nicholl said one thing could have ruined the day – Harry and Meghan.
Speaking to The Sun Royal Exclusive Showthe expert said Hugh would have been relieved if Prince William went.
Katie told royal editor Matt Wilkinson: “All the headlines would be about the brothers and this feud when this is actually a really important society wedding and I think it would certainly hurt the bride and groom on the day and no one would want that.”
“Knowing that Hughie is very close to his brothers, he was obviously in a difficult position and I don’t think he would ever invite one and not the other.”
If Hugh had been forced to choose between having one sibling or the other, he would have wanted Wills, the expert added.
Prince William was the wedding usher and was one of the first to arrive this morning – looking dapper in a light blue waistcoat with a black jacket and dark gray tailored trousers.
Katie continued: “I think his hope was that Harry would gracefully walk away from this, and that’s exactly what happened.
“I suppose if you were the Duke of Westminster and your wedding was on the front pages, you would want the spare there or you would want the heir and the future king.
“The perspective, of course, is that it’s better for Prince William to be there and I think that just highlights that divide, doesn’t it?”
Katie said there are “two real camps operating,” the “Montecito court” and the wills.
She continued: “When it comes to all things royal and aristocratic and British, I think William will be at the top of the pecking order.”
Katie said if the two brothers had been there today it would have been “extremely awkward”.
She said: “William was the usher at today’s service, so you can imagine the embarrassment if he had to show Harry and Meghan, or even just Harry, to his pew.
“I think any encounter would have been deeply awkward.”
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Olivia’s stunning custom-made wedding dress
Olivia Henson’s wedding dress and veil were designed by Emma Victoria Payne.
The custom embroidery on the wedding dress and veil was hand-drawn and reimagined by Emma Victoria Payne, incorporating floral motifs and edging from Olivia’s great-great-grandmother’s veil, circa 1880.
Olivia is wearing the Faberge Myrtle Leaf tiara made for Grosvenor brides to wear on their wedding day. It has belonged to the Grosvenor family since its creation in 1906.
She is carrying a bouquet of flowers, gathered from the gardens at Easton Hall, including grass, ox-eye daisies, iris, rose, clematis, mock orange, scabies, sweet pea, Astrantia, Martagon lily and love in a mist.
The dress was made from ivory silk crepe satin, ivory silk organza with custom embroidered details. Featuring a scalloped neckline with delicate handmade embroidery, made up of floral and leafy motifs.
The custom embroidery was hand-designed and reimagined by EVP incorporating floral motifs and edging from Olivia’s great-great-grandmother’s circa 1880s veil.
An elegant silhouette with a bias-cut skirt, pleated waistband, gathered sleeves, wide silk organza cuffs embroidered with a repeating scalloped edge motif and button details.
The back of the wedding dress features a dropped waist, keyhole back and embroidered embellishments with scalloped edges, secured with rouleau tabs. Features 2m removable silk crepe train with paneled construction.
Olivia’s exquisite bespoke EVP cascading veil features custom, bespoke intricate embroidery. Graduated motifs of cascading scalloped edges and incredibly delicate floral motifs with foliage and scrolls adorn the design.
Each original antique motif on Olivia’s family veil was hand-drawn and reimagined in a new repeating pattern of graduated scalloped edges and oval shapes to reflect the setting of Olivia’s engagement ring. Personalized initials and wedding date complete the design on the center back.
– Grosvenor Family
Prince Harry is said to have agreed not to attend to avoid clashing with his brother amid the fallout.
William 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 snubbed the event after the “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 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.
Bride-to-be Olivia wowed crowds in a custom-made lace-edged satin wedding dress by designer Emma Victoria Payne.
A statement from the family revealed: “The custom embroidery on the wedding dress and veil was hand-drawn and reimagined by Emma Victoria Payne, incorporating floral motifs and edging from Olivia’s great-great-grandmother’s veil circa 1880.”
Before the star-studded ceremony, Hugh smiled and waved to the masses as he arrived in a forest green Land Rover – similar to that of the late Prince Philip.
He greeted the Dean of Chester, the Reverend 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 applauded as Olivia’s dress and veil swayed in the wind as she entered the church.
The dress featured floral motifs and edging from Olivia’s great-great-grandmother’s veil, which was worn around 1880.
Her Faberge Myrtle Leaf tiara has been in the Grosvenor family since it was created in 1906.
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Who are the bride and groom?
Hugh Grosvenor was once dubbed “Britain’s most eligible bachelor” due to his billions in the bank and royal connections. But he was surprised 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 royalty, including Prince William, Prince Harry and Kate Middleton.
He studied at the University of Newcastle where he graduated with a Bachelor of Rural Management.
Previously, Hugh was in an on-and-off relationship with Harriet Tomlinson for several years.
The two met in college and broke up, only to get back together on several occasions.
Meanwhile, his now-wife, Olivia Henson, was born on September 1, 1992, in London, which makes her 31 years old.
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 at Eaton Hall, his family’s sprawling estate in Cheshire.
Their wedding was announced in April 2023 and she is now the new Duchess of Westminster.
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How the Duke and Bride’s Day Is Inspired by Kate
By Jane Matthews
The Duke of Westminster married his bride today – in a wedding that was inspired by Princess Kate’s big day.
Hugh Grosvenor, 33, married Olivia Henson, 31, at Chester Cathedral in 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 was the usher at the wedding, while Prince Harry reportedly agreed not to attend to avoid clashing with his brother amid the disagreement.
The King and Princess Kate were also invited to the big day, but it is understood they did not make it due to their health.
Instead, it looked like the Princess of Wales was there in spirit after the couple appeared to take inspiration from the decor from when she and Wills got married in 2011.
Photos of preparations at Chester Cathedral showed 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 are said to have ordered 10,000 flowers for the occasion, which was attended by 400 of their nearest and dearest.
The vegetation mirrored that of Kate and Wills’ wedding, where they filled Westminster Abbey with trees.
Six maple trees and two hornbeams lined the aisle and were placed 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.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
