OLIVIA Henson is living a fairytale life after it was revealed she would marry the Duke of Westminster.
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 future duchess.
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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 years old (as of June 2024).
During her childhood, she attended Marlborough College, the same school as the Princess of Wales.
The Duke and Miss Henson got engaged at Eaton Hall in April and are extremely grateful for the warm congratulatory messages they have received since then.
Olivia and Hugh Engagement Announcement
Their wedding was announced in April 2023 and she will become the new Duchess of Westminster.
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.
Before he began dating Olivia, 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.
When will Olivia Henson marry Hugh Grosvenor?
Olivia’s wedding to the Duke of Westminster will take place on June 7, 2024, at Chester Cathedral.
Announcing the wedding, a spokesperson for the pair said: “The couple chose the cathedral both for its beauty and its long association with the Grosvenor family, including the Duke personally.
“Cheshire is the ancestral home of the Grosvenor family and as Miss Henson’s connection with the region continues to grow, they are looking forward to planning their wedding there.”
The Duke’s parents, the late 6th Duke of Westminster and Natalia Phillips, were also married in the cathedral on 7 October 1978.
Just like their mother and father’s nuptials, Hugh and Olivia will also be welcoming members of the royal family to their wedding.
However, in December 2023 it was reported that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are NOT on the guest list.
This is despite Hugh and Harry being childhood friends.
However, the Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to attend – with reports suggesting William could even be best man.
Both royal couples 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.
However, only one couple was invited to the wedding, according to the Sunday Times.
Sources told the publication that the engaged couple had reportedly avoided inviting Harry and Meghan to what was called “the wedding of the year” to avoid any potential embarrassment for the Royal Family.
Hugh reportedly wanted the Sussexes to attend but decided not to.
A friend was quoted saying: “It’s incredibly sad that it has come to this – Hugh is one of the few close friends of William and Harry who has maintained strong ties and a line of communication with both of them.
“He wishes they could come together and fix things, but realizes that’s unlikely to happen before the wedding.
“He wanted to avoid anything clouding the day, especially for Olivia, and doesn’t want any embarrassment.”
A spokesman for the duke declined to comment, as did Buckingham Palace.
What does Olivia Henson do for a living?
Olivia is an account manager at ethical food company Belazu.
Based in London, the company is an environmentally friendly B Corp that imports high-quality artisanal ingredients from Europe.
This ranges from rose harissa and preserved lemons to partridge, port and venison.
Meanwhile, her future husband is the head of a real estate empire that has already swept up more than 1,500 buildings around the world.
Its portfolio includes the whole of Park Lane and half of Mayfair.
Because of this, Hugh is often described as owning “half of London”.
He became a billionaire at age 25 after his father, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, died in 2016 of a heart attack at age 64.
Hugh is the 7th Duke of Westminster, after his late father who was the 6th.
Although he is the third son of Gerald and Natalia Grosvenor, ancient laws meant that, as the first son, he would inherit most of his older sisters’ fortune.
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 rural administration at Newcastle University.
Hugh’s family is ranked as the 12th richest in the country according to the Sunday Times Rich List 2023.
According to The Times, friends said of the duke: “Hugh is quite discreet.
“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 Her Majesty’s request.
Hugh is the fourth cousin once removed of King Charles.
In 2013, the Duke became godfather to the Prince of Waleseldest son, Prince George.
Meanwhile, Hugh’s older sister, Lady Tamara, 43, is married to Prince William’s friend 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 is worth £10.1 billion.
He inherited title and control of his family’s assets following his father’s death in 2016.
His property company, Grosvenor Group, owns around 300 acres of land in Mayfair and Belgravia, as well as large city center developments such as Liverpool’s ONE shopping centre. The Duke is part of the royal inner circle.
What will happen at the wedding?
Children from the local school will be among the choir singing the couple in the hall. This marks the Duke’s close connection with the city.
Hundreds of well-wishers are expected to turn out to watch the couple drive through the streets like newlyweds, and the local council has announced road closures.
The Chester Standard reported that car travel advisories have been implemented for the city from Wednesday 5th to Friday 7th June 2024.
Cheshire West and Chester Council posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Please rethink traveling to the city center that day, avoiding traveling by car if possible.”
Following the wedding ceremony, guests will enjoy a reception at nearby Eaton Hall on the Grosvenors’ 11,000-acre estate.
Estates of the Duke of Westminster
The Grosvenor family originally made their fortune in mining before turning to the world of real estate.
Hugh inherited an impressive property portfolio when his father passed away.
The Duke owns Park Lane in London and half of Mayfair.
Additionally, properties that Hugh owns include:
- Eaton Estate – the Grosvenor family home of 11,500 acres in Cheshire.
- Abbeystead – the 23,500 acre shooting estate in Lancashire.
- Finca La Garganta Estate – 37,000 acre plot of land in rural Córdoba, near Seville, Spain.
- Reay Forest in Sutherland, Scotland.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
