Billionaire duke Hugh Grosvenor will wed Olivia Henson today in Chester. Here’s a look at who the couple are, how long they have been together and what they’ve said about their 400-guest ceremony – which will be attended by royals.
The Duke of Westminster will lose his unofficial title, “Britain’s most eligible bachelor”, as he marries Olivia Henson today.
Hugh Grosvenor, 33, who ranked 14th on the 2024 Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated fortune of £10.1bn, will make Ms Henson a duchess when he marries her at Chester Cathedral.
The largely private couple only made their first public appearance together last month, but their wedding is being billed as one of the most prestigious social events of the year.
One of the people who was there during that public appearance also went to school with the duke, and shares fond memories of a particular trip that ended the way any child would love.
Who is the future Duchess of Westminster?
The 31-year-old bride-to-be had been with the duke for two years when the pair announced their engagement in April 2023.
Much like her fiancé, Ms Henson largely stays out of the public eye. What we do know is she’s a senior accounts manager at Belazu, an ethical food company based in London, and she was introduced to the duke through mutual friends.
She is widely reported to have studied at Marlborough College – the same as the Princess of Wales and Pippa Middleton.
‘Britain’s most eligible bachelor’
The duke became an instant billionaire when he inherited his title and control of the historic Grosvenor Estate aged 25 following the death of his father from a heart attack in 2016.
As part of the estimated £10bn estate, the duke, previously known by his honorary title Earl Grosvenor, also inherited Eaton Hall in Cheshire – home to the Grosvenor family since the 15th century.
It’s where his notably casual engagement photo with Ms Henson was taken last year.
The duke, a former student of countryside management at Newcastle University, is one of four children: He has two older sisters, Lady Tamara and Lady Edwina, and one younger sister Lady Viola.
He inherited his father’s fortune despite not being the eldest of them as legitimate male heirs take precedence over their older sisters when it comes to inheriting an estate.
The property company he inherited, the Grosvenor Group, owns about 300 acres of land in Mayfair and Belgravia in central London, as well as major city centre developments such as Liverpool’s ONE shopping centre and properties in the US and Canada.
The billionaire, who was widely dubbed Britain’s most eligible bachelor after inheriting the fortune, is chair of both the Grosvenor Trustees and the Westminster Foundation, which represents his and the Grosvenor Group’s charitable interests.
When he does occasionally make headlines, it’s usually down to his charitable role. Such was the case in 2020 when he donated millions to the national effort against COVID.
‘You can feel the positive energy coming from them’
It can be difficult for the public to get to know a couple like the duke and Ms Henson who like to stay out of the limelight.
They made a rare public outing last month when they attended a parent-toddler music programme at Chester Cathedral, where they’ll soon marry.
It was a chance for them to see one of the many charitable programmes for young people they support through the duke’s Westminster Foundation.
Emma Thomas, a development artist at Cheshire Dance, which runs the programme, not only met the couple on their visit, but also went to primary school with Hugh Grosvenor.
Ms Thomas said they had a very “relaxed” and “approachable” quality to them on their visit, adding: “They seem very comfortable together and you could feel the really positive energy coming from them.”
She said the duke was “so enthusiastic about bringing opportunities for young people” and that it’s “wonderful to hear him talk so genuinely and passionately about that work”.
“The duke was absolutely wonderful” with the children there, she added. “So approachable, so engaging. I think it could be very easy to not be like that.
“But he was wonderful and he gave the kids a really great experience. I think they were very nervous to meet him, and he made it feel very relaxed.”
She added Ms Henson was “asking lots of questions” and “really valuing the voices of the children”.
A good end to a good day
Ms Thomas also reminisced with the duke about their time attending Eccleston C of E Primary School together.
She was a few year groups older but saw a fair amount of the duke because he and her younger brother were friends.
She recalls a birthday party they both went to when they were about six or seven – where they had a tour of Liverpool’s Anfield stadium.
“He was quite a calm kid, but he loved Liverpool so much. The enthusiasm!”
She said she fondly recalls going to McDonald’s with the duke after visiting the stadium.
Wedding of the year?
Despite keeping a low profile, the expected 400-guest wedding won’t be the first lavish event the duke has thrown.
His 21st birthday party for 800 guests at Eaton Hall in 2012 was reported to have cost £5m.
Comedian Michael McIntyre and hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks provided the entertainment, and Prince Harry was among the guests for the “black tie and neon” event.
On his wedding plans, the duke told Town & Country Magazine during the Chester Cathedral visit: “I think next time we’re in here will be slightly more nerve-wracking.”
He added he was “unbelievably excited”.
“I also just wanted to make it very clear how unbelievably helpful people have been, how supportive they’ve been so far which I’m unbelievably grateful for,” he told the publication.
“Because I do realise that it’s going to be a big thing for the city. It’s going to be certainly a huge thing for us, so we’re just really grateful for all the help.”
On holding the wedding in Chester, Ms Henson added: “It’s obviously a place where we will live, where we’ll be building our lives together.”
The pair currently live in London and are “slowly transitioning” to Chester where they plan to put “roots down”, she added, saying it was a “really easy decision” to have the wedding there.
Shortly after their engagement announcement last year, a spokesperson for the couple said: “The couple have chosen the cathedral for both its beauty and long association with the Grosvenor family, including to the duke personally.
“Cheshire is the Grosvenor family’s ancestral home and as Ms Henson’s connection to the region continues to grow, they are keen to plan their wedding there.”