Why The Internet Is Obsessed With Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster
The 33-year-old aristocrat and formerly Britain's most eligible bachelor is getting married on June 7, 2024, and royal drama has already surrounded the affair.
The biggest high society wedding of the year, which has been highly anticipated by British citizens, fans of the royals, and news outlets alike, is set to take place on June 7.
Hugh Grosvenor, the 33-year-old Duke of Westminster, is set to marry his fiancé, Olivia Henson, who he dated for two years prior to proposing in April 2023. The couple are to be married at the Chester Cathedral—a storied, picturesque gothic church—in the town of Chester, located in northwest England near Liverpool and Manchester.
The Duke and Henson met several years ago after they became acquainted through shared friends. Although he has been in the spotlight since childhood due to his royal connections, the duke has recently been the subject of widespread public fascination after taking over Grosvenor Group, which deals in property and holdings, in 2016. Following his father's passing that same year, the Duke took over the company, and has since become the wealthiest person under 40 in the country, with an estimated net worth at 12 billion pounds.
Although the Duke and his fiancé, Henson, are quite private, the bride-to-be is an alum of Marlborough College—the very same school that Kate Middleton attended—and is the daughter of Rupert and Caroline Henson, the latter of whom is descended from the Marquess of Bristol. After graduating from Marlborough College, Henson began her studies at Trinity College, where she earned a degree in Hispanic Studies and Italian. Currently, she works as a senior account manager for Belazu, an ethical food company.
Following the wedding, the couple plans to move from London to Eaton Hall, the Grosvenor estate, in Cheshire. Ahead of the wedding, Henson has also expressed a passion for the city and its people. "I’m 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." Henson told Town & Country Magazine in May 2024. “It’s obviously a place where we will live, where we’ll be building our lives together,” the bride-to-be continued. "We’re slowly transitioning to move up from London and be much more permanent here and really putting roots down. So actually, yes it was a really easy decision in the end.”
Although the wedding marks a grand occasion in itself, the involvement of Prince Harry and Prince William, who are both close friends of the Duke's, has captured the world's attention—especially given that the two brothers are reportedly on distant terms at the moment.
Although both Prince William and Prince Harry were invited to the wedding, only Prince William will attend. Both Meghan Markle, wife of Prince Harry, and Kate Middleton, wife of Prince William, were invited as well, but neither are expected to join the wedding party. Per The Times, Prince Harry reached a "civilized understanding" with his friend, and decided not to attend the ceremony out of respect for the bride and groom-to-be, as attention would likely have shifted towards the royal brothers had both agreed to go. The Duke is reportedly a close friend of both princes, as both of their eldest sons, Prince George and Prince Archie, are godsons of the aristocrat. Prince William is expected to play a major role in his friend's wedding and serve as the ceremony's usher, and his ten-year-old son is also expected to partake in the festivities as a pageboy.
King Charles, who is the godfather of the groom will also not be in attendance, as he has spent recent days traveling to Normandy for an annual D-Day remembrance event, and is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.
Following the formal cathedral ceremony, guests will flock to Eaton Hall, the Grosvenor family estate, where the star-studded party will continue.
