LONDON. Prince William stepped away from his royal duties on Friday to serve as an usher at the wedding of his close friend, Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster. The high-society event, however, faced a brief interruption by environmental protesters.
Hugh Grosvenor, 33, one of Britain’s wealthiest landowners, married his partner Olivia Henson, 31, at Chester Cathedral in northwest England. This wedding is considered one of the most significant social events of the year in Britain.
Prince William, 41, arrived at the cathedral alongside his fellow ushers before the midday service. The cathedral is situated near the duke’s 10,000-acre Eaton Hall estate, where a private wedding reception was scheduled to take place.
Hundreds of onlookers gathered outside the cathedral cheered as Grosvenor, dressed in a morning suit, and Henson, in a white wedding dress by British designer Emma Victoria Payne, made their grand entrances. Henson’s long veil, worn over a tiara, flowed gracefully in the wind.
As the newlyweds emerged from the cathedral and shared a kiss in front of the assembled crowd, the celebration was momentarily disrupted. Two environmental protesters sprayed orange powder from a fire extinguisher before being swiftly apprehended by police.
Cheshire Police reported that a 69-year-old woman and a 73-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of public order offenses. The protest group Just Stop Oil claimed responsibility, stating that the individuals were demanding an end to fossil fuel extraction.
Hugh Grosvenor is the godfather to 10-year-old Prince George, the eldest son of Prince William and his wife Kate. Kate, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, did not attend the wedding. Prince Harry, William’s estranged younger brother who resides in California with his wife Meghan and their two children, was also absent.
Grosvenor inherited his title at 25 following the death of his father in 2016. The Grosvenor family’s wealth dates back to 1677 when Sir Thomas Grosvenor married heiress Mary Davies and acquired marshland that would later develop into the prestigious London neighborhoods of Mayfair and Belgravia.
Today, the Grosvenor Estate owns 300 acres of land in London and additional properties across Britain and around the world. The 2024 Sunday Times Rich List estimated the Duke’s wealth at over £10 billion ($12.8 billion).
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
