How Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson decided on a decidedly modern touch for their wedding service
The Duke of Westminster has married Olivia Henson in the society wedding of the year.
Billionaire aristocrat Hugh Grosvenor, 33, married Miss Henson, 31, at Chester Cathedral this afternoon. The couple announced their engagement in April last year after two years together.
A spokesperson for the Duke and Mrs Henson said they had ‘put their own personal stamp on all the arrangements’, ranging from the flowers to the food.
In one major twist, however, the Duke of Westminster eschewed the traditional English service popular with aristocratic couples. As a result, the service at Chester Cathedral, attended by Prince William and Princess Eugenie, was in contemporary language rather than 17th century English.
Most Church of England weddings use the words from Common Worship’s The Marriage Service, which offers a wider choice of readings and prayers. But some couples prefer a ceremony that uses language like “you” and “thou” instead of “thou” and may use the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.
The Duke, Hugh Grosvenor, 33, married Olivia Henson, 31, with guests from around the world
Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson outside Chester Cathedral after the ceremony on Friday
The Duke of Westminster pictured at Chester Cathedral for his society wedding of the year to Olivia Henson
Olivia Henson (second right) arrives at her wedding to Hugh Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster
Olivia Henson smiles as she walks into Chester Cathedral for her wedding to Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster
The Dean of Chester, the Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford, told MailOnline that the couple had a ‘contemporary’ service, rather than using the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, which contains the rule against marriage: ‘lightly, or wantonly, to gratify the carnal lusts and desires of men, as brute beasts that have no understanding.’
The dean, who is officiating the wedding, added: “In many ways this is just like any other couple getting married, just on a bigger scale because they are somewhat in the public eye and some of their guests are certainly in the are in the public eye.
‘The couple at the center of this want to declare their eternal love for each other in the presence of witnesses, family and friends and we are here to provide the stage.’
In addition, there is also an updated version of the 1662 service, known as Alternative Services: Series One, which was used by the Prince and Princess of Wales for their wedding.
The Duke of Westminster, commonly known as ‘Hughie’ to aristocratic friends, is estimated to be worth £10.42 billion, making him the richest man under the age of 40 in Britain.
Meanwhile, his bride, who grew up in London and Oxfordshire, has worked in the sustainable food and drink industry.
Mrs Henson traveled to the cathedral with her father in a vintage Bentley, originally made for the car manufacturer’s founder in 1930.
The service was sung by the Chester Cathedral Choir, accompanied by a group of musicians from North West England.
The Bishop of Chester, the Right Rev. Mark Tanner, also preached and prayers were led by the Rev. Canon Rosie Woodall.
A Bentley Motors 1930 8-litre waits to chauffeur the Duke of Westminster and Miss Henson from their wedding at Chester Cathedral
Princess Eugenie is one of many of the 400 high-profile guests who attended the event
Prince William, Prince of Wales, ahead of the wedding of the Duke of Westminster and Miss Henson
Seasonal flowers for the ceremony are sourced from local growers and will be made into bouquets after the wedding, which will be delivered to local charities, churches and organizations
The couple are said to have chosen the wedding venue for its beauty and because of the personal connection with the duke, whose parental home Eaton Hall is nearby. There will be a private reception following the service in Eaton Hall.
The Duke and Mrs Henson’s spokesman added: ‘This is an incredibly special day for the Duke and Mrs Henson and they are very much looking forward to the service.
‘It means a lot to them to be married at Chester Cathedral, especially given the Grosvenor family’s long and close personal association with both the cathedral and the city of Chester.
‘The couple have also been touched by the messages of support they have received from across the region and are extremely grateful that people want to share in their happiness.’
The spokesperson added: ‘The Duke and Miss Henson have taken great care in planning the wedding, putting their own personal stamp on all arrangements and making a conscious effort to involve local and regional suppliers in various aspects of the day. involve. ‘
Workmen were also seen repairing red telephone boxes in Chester city center ahead of the wedding
The Duke pays for free ice cream for locals from three local businesses. Pictured from left to right: Craig Fermor of Diddy Donuts, Valentina Aviotti of Krum Gelato and Stephen Young of Cheshire Farm Ice Cream
A large security cordon will be erected around the cathedral due to the presence of so many high-profile guests. Pictured: sniffer dogs in Chester on Thursday
Flowers will be delivered and taken to Chester Cathedral on Thursday
Eaton Hall, a mock French castle set in 10,872 acres of Cheshire (50 acres of which include extensive formal gardens), is where the couple plan to live after they get married, and is the perfect place for a party.
Details about the shelter plans are being kept very private, at least for now, but the Duke has announced that the couple will treat Chester residents to free ice creams, gelato and sorbet at three local, independent cafes so they can join in the celebration. celebration.
Prince William acted as usher for the ceremony, which started at noon on Friday and was believed to be attended by around 400 guests.
The prince arrived at the cathedral around 10:30 a.m., leaving a Mercedes van with fellow ushers and entering through a side entrance, unseen by many of the crowds gathering on the street outside.
His brother, the Duke of Sussex, is not expected to attend after it was mutually agreed he would not attend.
The wedding comes amid a long-standing rift between the princes.
The Princess of Wales, who has fallen out of the spotlight as she undergoes treatment for cancer, is not expected to attend.
The 7th Duke, Britain’s richest man under 40, worth £10.42 billion, is godfather to Prince Williams’ son, Prince George, and Prince Harry’s son Archie. Harry is not present at the wedding
A wedding reception will take place at the Duke of Westminster’s private home, Eaton Hall (pictured)
The king, the groom’s godfather, and the queen will also not attend the ceremony, as they attended the D-Day commemorations in France on Thursday.
The Duke of Westminster is godfather to William’s son, Prince George, and reportedly also to Harry’s son, Prince Archie.
Ten-year-old George is not expected to attend the wedding as it falls on a school day.
The Duke of Westminster became an instant billionaire when he inherited his title and control of the historic Grosvenor Estate at the age of 25, following the death of his father from a heart attack in 2016.
His property company, Grosvenor Group, owns around 300 hectares of land in Mayfair and Belgravia, as well as major city center developments such as Liverpool’s One shopping centre.
