THE Duke of Westminster and his bride wowed cheering crowds today as they shared their first kiss.

Hugh Grosvenor, 33, tied the knot with fiancee Olivia Henson, 31, in a lavish ceremony at Chester Cathedral.

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The Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson shared a kiss outside Chester CathedralCredit: Getty

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Olivia beamed at crowds when she arrived at the chapelCredit: Getty

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She wore a gorgeous custom-made dress and veilCredit: Getty

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Prince William this morning led guests into the society wedding of the yearCredit: i-Images

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Crowds held Union Jacks as they waited to see the happy coupleCredit: Getty
Prince William, who was an usher for the wedding, watched on with a smile as the happy couple left the chapel.

He had been one of the first to arrive this morning, and led glam guests into the ceremony.

The masses had gathered to get a glimpse of the bride and groom, and waved at other arrivals – including Wills.

After the ceremony, crowds roared as the happy couple shared their first kiss outside the cathedral.

The new Duke and Duchess of Westminster then stood and waved to the masses who had turned up to sneak a peek at their big day.

Their happy day couldn’t be spoiled by Just Stop Oil protestors, who let off orange-coloured fire extinguishers after the ceremony.

Cops quickly leapt into action to remove the eco-idiots.

Earlier in the day bride-to-be Olivia wowed crowds when she arrived in a custom-made wedding dress at noon.

Hugh had beamed and waved at the masses when he showed up about half an hour beforehand.

Dozens of well-wishers cheered as Olivia’s dress and veil got picked up in the wind as she made her way inside the church.

Inside the Lavish Life of Billionaire Hugh Grosvenor
Her gown and veil had been designed by Emma Victoria Payne – and held special meaning.

They were hand-drawn and incorporated floral motifs and edgings from the bride’s great great grandmother’s veil from around 1880.

The stunning bride-to-be beamed at the masses before heading inside to her ceremony.

She looked similar to her fiance, who had a smile ear-to-ear when he arrived at the chapel as he waved to cheering crowds.

He turned up in a forest green Land Rover – similar to the late Prince Philip’s.

Dressed in a black suit jacket with pinstripe trousers, the groom and his groomsmen looked smart.

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The newly married couple beamed as they left the chapelCredit: Zenpix

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They waved to well-wishers who had gathered to see themCredit: Goff

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Wills was an usher at the weddingCredit: Goff

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Hugh Grosvenor had a smile ear-to-ear as he arrived for his big dayCredit: Goff
Hugh grinned as he shook the Dean of Chester the Rev Dr Tim Stratford’s hand at the entrance to the cathedral.

The Duke then beamed as he made his way inside for the ceremony.

Prince William was an usher at the wedding and was one of the first to arrive this morning – looking dapper in a suit.

His cousin Princess Eugenie was not far behind, as well as other glam guests dressed to the nines.

Women donned fascinators, long dresses and heels, while most men wore coat-tails.

Who are the bride & groom?

Hugh Grosvenor was once dubbed “Britain’s most eligible bachelor” owing to his billions in the bank and royal connections. But he has been swept off his feet by the future 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 royals, including Prince William, Prince Harry and Kate Middleton.

He studied at Newcastle University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Countryside Management.

Olivia Henson was born on September 1, 1992, in London, which makes her 31.

During her childhood, she attended Marlborough College, the same school as the Princess of Wales.

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 to her at Eaton Hall, his sprawling family estate in Cheshire.

Before he started dating Olivia, Hugh was in an on-off relationship with Harriet Tomlinson for several years.

The pair met at college and split up, only to get back together on numerous occasions.

Many beamed as they waved to the crowds before filing into the church, while others snapped photos of the masses waiting to get a peak at the happy couple.

Other guests included Charles van Straubenzee, who Prince Harry was best man to.

Harry had been best pals with his brother Henry, who he called Henners, who died in a car crash in 2002.

Well-wishers had been lining the streets near the chapel for hours in advance this morning, with dozens of police standing guard.

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The bride-to-be looked stunning when she arrivedCredit: PA

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Guests had smiles ear-to-ear as they waved to well-wishersCredit: i-Images

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Glam loved ones made their way inside the chapelCredit: AFP

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Olivia’s dress and veil were designed by Emma Victoria PayneCredit: AFP
They waved frantically as the groom arrived.

Many held and wore the Union Jack with pride, while others donned their nicest outfits for the occasion.

The Duke, who was once dubbed the UK’s richest bachelor, is King Charles’ godson, and the godfather of both Prince George and Archie.

Wills was an usher at the wedding, while Prince Harry was said to have agreed not to attend to avoid clashes with his brother amid their rift.

The King and Princess Kate were said to have been invited to the big day, too, but it’s understood they didn’t attend due to their health.

Stunning Olivia’s custom-made wedding dress

Olivia Henson’s wedding dress and veil have been designed by Emma Victoria Payne.

The bespoke embroidery design on the bridal gown and veil was hand drawn and reimagined by Emma Victoria Payne, incorporating floral motifs and edgings from Olivia’s great great grandmother’s veil from around 1880.

Olivia is wearing the Faberge Myrtle Leaf Tiara made for Grosvenor brides to wear on their wedding day. It has been in the Grosvenor family since its creation in 1906.

She is carrying a bouquet of flowers, picked from the Easton Hall gardens, comprising Meadow grass, Ox eye daisies, Iris, Rose, Clematis, Mock orange, Scabious, Sweet pea, Astrantia, Martagon lily and Love in a mist.

The dress was constructed in ivory silk crepe satin, ivory silk organza with bespoke embroidered detailing. Featuring a scalloped edge neckline with a delicate bespoke hand appliquéd embroidery comprising of floral and leafy motifs. The bespoke embroidery design was hand drawn and reimagined by EVP incorporating floral motifs and edgings from Olivia’s great great grandmothers veil circa 1880. A sleek silhouette with a bias cut skirt, pleated waistband, gathered sleeves, wide embroidered silk organza cuffs with a scalloped edge repeat motif and button detailing. The back of the bridal gown features a dropped waist, key hole back and scalloped edging embroidery embellishments fastening with rouleau loops. It features a detachable 2m silk crepe satin train with a panelled construction.

Olivia’s exquisite EVP bespoke waterfall veil features intricate bespoke and personalised embroidery. Graduating motifs of cascading scalloped edges and incredibly delicate floral motifs with foliage and scrolls adorn the design. Each original antique motif from Olivia’s family veil was hand drawn and reimagined into a new repeat pattern of graduating scalloped edges and oval shapes to reflect Olivia’s engagement ring setting. Personalised initials and wedding date complete the design in the centre back.

– Grosvenor family

William and Harry have always had a close relationship with Hugh, and were both ushers at his sister’s wedding in 2004.

And while it’s reported Harry would have loved to have been there for Hugh’s big day – he snubbed the event after “challenges” came to light.

A source close to the Sussexes told People magazine: “There was an acknowledgement 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 inevitable clamour had estranged brothers Prince William and Prince Harry both attended the nuptials, eliminating the possibility of the big day being overshadowed for the couple.”

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Princess Eugenie beamed as she arrived at the chapelCredit: Max Mumby

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The groom arrived in a green Land Rover similar to the late Prince Philip’sCredit: Zenpix

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The Duke will today marry OliviaCredit: PA

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Patriotic Brits lined the street to try to get a peek at the pairCredit: PA

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Guests snapped pics of the crowdsCredit: PA
The wedding, which appeared to have taken inspiration from Wills’ and Kate’s in 2011, was set to be a lavish event.

The private ceremony saw around 400 guests file into the church, before they headed back to Eaton Hall for the reception.

It was announced yesterday that the hundreds of well-wishers who line the streets near the chapel will be given free ice cream.

It’s not known how much is being spent on the lavish occasion, but it’s expected to be a decent fortune.

How Duke & fiancee’s day is inspired by Kate

By Jane Matthews

THE Duke of Westminster is tying the knot with his fiancee today – in a wedding that’s taken inspiration from Princess Kate’s big day.

Hugh Grosvenor, 33, is marrying Olivia Henson, 31, at Chester Cathedral, and it’s set to be the society wedding of the year.

The Duke, who was once dubbed the UK’s richest bachelor, is King Charles’ godson, and the godfather of both Prince George and Archie.

Prince William is set to be an usher at the wedding, while Prince Harry was said to have agreed not to attend to avoid clashes with his brother amid their rift.

The King and Princess Kate were said to have been invited to the big day, too, but it’s understood they won’t due to their health.

But it could feel like the Princess of Wales is there in spirit – the couple appear to have drawn decorative inspiration from when she and Wills wed in 2011.

Snaps of preparations at Chester Cathedral show van loads of flowers being brought in, with scaffolding surrounding parts of the church.

Workers could be seen hauling trees towards the venue, while bouquets of flowers lined the streets nearby.

The happy couple are said to have ordered 10,000 flowers in for the occasion, which 400 of their nearest and dearest will attend.

The greenery mirrors that of Kate and Wills’ wedding, where they filled Westminster Abbey with trees.

Six field maple trees and two hornbeams lined the isle and sat near the altar for the Royal wedding.

Kate was also said to have brought in nearly 30,000 flowers for the wedding.

The Duke of Westminster is said to have paid to have 10,000 flowers planted throughout the city for the occasion – and they’re all 100% British.

For his 21st birthday in 2012, Hugh’s father splashed a whopping £5million on a bash.

The Duke became a billionaire at the young age of 25, after his father Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor died in 2016 of heart attack aged 64.

Hugh was the youngest son of Gerald and Natalia Phillips – who can trace her own lineage back to Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.

This left him head of a property empire that has swept up more than 1,500 buildings around the world.

The Grosvenor Group owns about 300 acres of land in Mayfair and Belgravia – which is why Hugh is often described as owning “half of London”.

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Crowds waved as Hugh arrivedCredit: AFP

Hugh was once known as the UK’s richest bachelorCredit: PA

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The occasion has been dubbed the society wedding of the yearCredit: i-Images

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Around 400 guests are expected to attend the private weddingCredit: Getty

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Wills is an usher at the star-studded eventCredit: Getty
In addition to this, they own major city centre developments such as Liverpool’s ONE shopping centre, Tokyo apartments, a “large chunk” of Silicon Valley and Annacis Island, off 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 sprawling family estate in Cheshire.

Olivia works for London-based food firm Belazu and is said to speak Italian and Spanish.

She will become the new Duchess of Westminster, once they are wed.

A spokesperson for him and Olivia this morning said: “The Duke and Miss Henson have taken a great deal of care in planning the wedding, putting their own personal stamp on all the arrangements and have made a conscious effort to involve local and regional suppliers in several aspects of the 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 moved by the messages of support they have received from around the region and are hugely grateful that people want to share in their happiness.”

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Preparations have been underway at Chester Cathedral all weekCredit: Getty

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Dozens of well-wishers have already started lining the streetsCredit: AFP

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Then-Prime Minister Theresa May pictured with Hugh and Wills in 2018Credit: PA

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Parts of the wedding are said to be inspired by Kate and Wills’ big day in 2011Credit: James Whatling

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Preparations have been underway for the society wedding of the year all weekCredit: Splash