Duke of Westminster and wife Olivia Henson marry in high-society wedding attended by Prince William – best photos | HELLO! (2024)

On the morning of the wedding, the Grade I-listed cathedral looked absolutely spectacular, with the main doors adorned with a floral arch. The flowers on display inside the cathedral included rambling roses, philadelphus, campanula, and orlaya grandiflora, as well as birch trees.

Following the wedding, the trees will be replanted at Hugh's family home, Eaton Hall, while the flowers will be repurposed and distributed to local organisations.

The bride and groom chose flowers from local growers through the 'Flowers from the Farm' network, which champions artisan growers. Many of the flowers seen also came from the Grosvenor's Eaton Estate.

Crowds started to form early on Friday morning, with well-wishers hoping to catch a glimpse of the well-heeled guests, the bride and groom, and Prince William.

Ahead of the wedding, Hugh, 33, acknowledged the interest in his big day, telling Town & Country: "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.

"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."

Looking smart in a morning suit, William was spotted arriving at Chester Cathedral with the rest of the ushers in a Mercedes van. They were dropped off at a side entrance.

William is the only senior royal in attendance, despite rumours that his ten-year-old son Prince George, the groom's godson, would act as one of Hugh's pageboys.

His wife Kate is undergoing preventative treatment for cancer and has not been seen publicly on a high-profile outing since Christmas Day 2023.

Meanwhile, William's father King Charles, who is Hugh's godfather, and wife Queen Camilla were also a no-show.

Making an appearance at around 11am with her friend and former Vogueeditor Violet Henderson-Vestey, the mother-of-two looked delightful in an olive green number by Joseph and a cream fascinator by Emily London Millinery.

She accessorized with an Anya Hindmarch clutch and wore nude suede pumps by Aquazzura.

Prince William's good friend Thomas van Straubenzee and his wife Lucy also made up the guest list.

Thomas is one of Princess Charlotte's godfathers, while Lucy taught Charlotte and George at their previous London school, Thomas's Battersea.

Prince William's close friend Edward van Cutsem was spotted arriving with another guest.

Edward is married to the groom's sister Lady Tamara Grosvenor; the couple also chose to say "I do" at Chester Cathedral 20 years ago.

The groom was welcomed by The Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford, the Dean of Chester, who conducted the ceremony.

The Right Revd Mark Tanner preached, while Revd Canon Rosie Woodall led the prayers.

Speaking exclusively toHELLO! on the eve of the wedding, the Dean shared the significance of holding the wedding at the Duke's family church, highlighting Chester as a place the bride Olivia "has fallen in love with". He also expressed his pride in the couple for choosing this special venue for their wedding.

Members of the Grosvenor family who were spotted filing into the cathedral included the groom's mother, Natalia, duch*ess of Westminster, who was widowed in 2016 when her husband Gerald Grosvenor, 6^th Duke of Westminster, died unexpectedly of a heart attack.

Natalia looked pretty in pink, matching her daughter Lady Edwina.

Hugh van Cutsem, a friend of the royals, was on hand to greet the groom's family as they arrived.

Hugh's daughter Grace famously acted as a bridesmaid at William and Kate's royal wedding in 2011, while his late father, Hugh van Cutsem Sr., was King Charles' best friend from Cambridge.

Shortly before noon, blushing bride Olivia arrived at the cathedral with her father Rupert Henson.

They were chauffeured in a vintage Bentley, provided by the Heritage Collection of Bentley Motors in Crewe. The car was originally made for W.O. Bentley, the founder of Bentley Motors, in 1930.

Olivia, 31, looked absolutely exquisite in a wedding dress and veil designed by London-based Emma Victoria Payne.

The bespoke embroidery design on her gown and veil was hand drawn and reimagined by the designer, incorporating floral motifs and edgings from Olivia's great-great-grandmother's veil from around 1880.

Much had been said about which tiara Olivia would wear on her wedding day.

She accessorized with the Faberge Myrtle Leaf Tiara made specifically for Grosvenor brides to wear at their nuptials. The tiara has been in the Grosvenor family since its creation in 1906.

Hugh and Olivia gave the crowds what they wanted, sealing their love with a kiss.

The bride even joked about the strong winds, saying she was going to "take off".

Prince William was seen smiling as he left the cathedral.

One onlooker cried out, "Best wishes to Kate," referencing the Prince's wife, to which he replied "Thank you" and waved.

The wedding reception is taking place at Eaton Hall, the Grosvenor family's ancestral seat, which Hugh inherited when his father Gerald passed away eight years ago.

Hugh is the richest man in the UK under the age of 40, boasting a fortune of £10.1 billion, making him far wealthier than his friend William and his godfather King Charles.

He amassed his wealth – his title, the family home Eaton Hall, and control of the historic Grosvenor Estate – aged 25. His property company, Grosvenor Group, of which he is Chair, owns about 300 acres of land in London's most affluent areas, Mayfair and Belgravia, as well as major city centre developments such as Liverpool's ONE shopping centre.

The Duke is also Chair of the Westminster Foundation, a charitable organisation that focuses on helping vulnerable youth and their families.