Olivia Henson has arrived at her society wedding ceremony of the yr to the Duke of Westminster at Chester Cathedral.
Prince William, who’s an usher on the ceremony, was cheered on by onlookers as appeared on the Cathedral in Cheshire for the nuptials of his outdated good friend Hugh Grosvenor.
The seventh Duke, 33, universally often called ‘Hughie’ to aristocratic pals, is estimated to be value £10.42billion, making him the richest man below 40 in Britain.
He’s the godfather to William’s son Prince George and Prince Harry’s son Archie. However whereas William will play a significant function on the service amongst 400 or so anticipated company, Harry has remained in California.
Hugh will wed Olivia, 31, on the eleventh Century Cathedral at noon, with company jetting in from around the globe.
Princess Eugenie is among the many many company to have arrived on the occasion, whereas the Princess of Wales – who has been out the highlight as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy – shouldn’t be anticipated to attend.
Olivia Henson has arrived for her wedding ceremony to the Duke of Westminster at Chester Cathedral
Olivia Henson in her wedding ceremony costume exterior the Cathedral for her wedding ceremony to Hugh Grosvenor
The groom, Hugh Grosvenor (left), arriving at Chester Cathedral for his wedding ceremony to Olivia Henson
Prince William arriving on the Duke of Westminster’s society wedding ceremony to Olivia
Princess Eugenie (pictured) arriving on the cathedral for the marriage of Hugh and Olivia
Princess Eugenie strolling to the cathedral in Cheshire immediately earlier than the ceremony
The Duke 33, will wed Olivia Henson, 31, (pictured) in Cheshire immediately
Hugh smiles and waves as he arrives on the cathedral in Cheshire to wed Olivia
Charles van Straubenzee and his spouse Daisy Jenks arrive at Chester Cathedral forward of the marriage
Thomas Van Straubenzee and spouse arrive for the ceremony immediately
The grooms mom, Natalia Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster (left), arriving on the ceremony
Charlie Gilkes and his spouse Anneke arriving on the cathedral for the society wedding ceremony of the yr immediately
Company arriving at Chester Cathedral in Cheshire for the marriage
Company arrive for the marriage of Hugh Grosvenor to Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral
Extra company arriving on the society wedding ceremony of the yr between Hugh and Olivia
A automobile pulls up exterior the cathedral forward of the ceremony
Crowds collect exterior Chester Cathedral for the Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson’s wedding ceremony immediately
Shortly earlier than 11am, coachloads and minibuses of excited company started arriving and submitting into the facet door of the Cathedral.
As they rounded the nook, many smiled and waved again to the crowds lining the streets, who have been cheering their arrival.
William, dressed like others in morning swimsuit, smiled as he exited a black minibus to go in direction of the constructing.
Company joined the lengthy queue snaking into the Cathedral, ready to be proven to their seats by Prince William and the opposite ushers.
Harry, who would have been anticipated to attend immediately’s service, has chosen as an alternative to remain in California.
Miss Henson will arrive on the Cathedral simply earlier than midday in a classic 1930 8-litre Bentley owned by the Grosvenor property.
After the ceremony finishes round 1pm company will take pleasure in a lavish reception with a lemon wedding ceremony cake on the Grosvenor household seat, Eaton Corridor, simply exterior Chester.
The Duke pays without cost ice cream, gelato and sorbet for Cheshire locals from three native unbiased cafes to allow them to be part of within the celebration.
Photographs from this morning present excited royal followers forming a crowd exterior the cathedral forward of the Church of England ceremony beginning at noon.
The followers have been gathering since 6am this morning, hours earlier than the ceremony is because of begin.
Maths tutor Catherina Rhodes, 59, of Chester, stated: ‘It is an thrilling day. I’ve all the time cherished the royal household particularly the Queen.
‘I used to be taken all the way down to Buckingham Palace after I was aged six.
‘My uncle labored on the stables and helped train the Queen to journey. Since then I used to be entranced by the royal household.’
She added: ‘It is nice for town.’
Pharmaceutical coach Helen Jackson, 55, stated: ‘I went for a drink within the Grosvenor resort final night time and noticed Princess Eugenie having a drink.
‘So I do know she’s going to be right here immediately.
‘It is fabulous for […] Chester.
‘I got here to see the royals when the Queen and Megan Markle got here right here simply earlier than.’
Pensioner Ann Beck arrived at 8am. She stated: ‘I needed to return to assist the household as they’re from Chester and naturally the royals.’
A staggering 100,000 flowers have been planted all through town – all paid for by the Duke – which will likely be donated to charity following the ceremony.
Prince William (proper) and Hugh Grosvenor (left) attending the 2004 wedding ceremony of Edward van Cutsem and Girl Tamara Grosvenor at Chester Cathedral
Hugh is godfather to Prince Williams’s son Prince George and Prince Harry’s son Archie. Harry won’t attend the marriage
A girl clothes up in wedding ceremony apparel and a Union Jack scarf exterior the cathedral
Crowds collect exterior Chester Cathedral for the marriage immediately
A basic view of police and well-wishers as they line the road close to the cathedral
Police exterior Chester Cathedral earlier than the marriage this afternoon
Properly-wishers line the road forward of the marriage immediately
Cops exterior the cathedral in Cheshire immediately forward of the ceremony
Crowds collect exterior Chester Cathedral for the society wedding ceremony beginning at noon
A basic view of Chester Cathedral forward of the marriage of The Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson
Police vans in Chester Cathedral, the place the marriage ceremony will happen
The Duke pays without cost ice cream for locals from three native companies. Pictured left to proper: Craig Fermor from Diddy Donuts, Valentina Aviotti from Krum Gelato and Stephen Younger from Cheshire Farm Ice Cream
Scores of bins of flowers have been delivered to the cathedral by a fleet of vans
A big safety cordon will likely be erected across the cathedral as a result of presence of so many excessive profile company. Pictured: Sniffer canines in Chester
A workman carries a bundle of chairs via the backyard at Chester Cathedral
Non permanent scaffolding was additionally erected close to the cathedral as employees trim vegetation
This week a floral arch was constructed across the enormous West Door of the 1,000-year-old Cathedral within the coronary heart of town.
On a street into town close to the doorway to the Grosvenor Hospital, employees dressed a pair of mannequins in swimsuit and wedding ceremony costume with pictures of Hugh and Olivia’s faces hooked up.
Given the presence of the inheritor to the throne on the occasion, safety precautions have additionally been in proof, with detectives seen chatting with native Cheshire Cops exterior the Cathedral this week.
Police sniffer canines have been seen checking drains across the precincts of the constructing for any traces of explosives.
Eaton Corridor, a mock French chateau set in 10,872 acres of Cheshire (50 acres of which is elaborate formal gardens) is the place the couple intend to stay after they’re married, and is the proper place for a celebration.
Cheshire Farm Ice Cream, based mostly within the coronary heart of Chester Market, will likely be providing a spread of Cheshire Farm single-scoop ice-creams or slices of a brand new lemon-sponge flavoured arctic roll.
The lemon-flavoured arctic roll has been specifically created in acknowledgement of The Duke and Olivia’s lemon-flavoured wedding ceremony cake that company will likely be served on the wedding ceremony reception.
Ed Warrington, proprietor of Cheshire Farm Ice Cream retailers, stated: ‘As an area enterprise we’re delighted to be a part of The Duke and Olivia’s initiative to supply free ice cream to the general public in celebration of their wedding ceremony.
‘All at Cheshire Farm Ice Cream want them the perfect for his or her wedding ceremony day.’
The couple have been scrupulous about not making a gift of particulars of the reception and ‘we now have additionally been requested to not do any social media posting once we get there’, stated a visitor.
It’s prone to be a inexperienced occasion as each Hugh and Olivia are eco minded, and it’s understood that flowers used on the ceremony and reception will likely be pressed and made into sustainable artworks afterwards, somewhat than merely being thrown away.
Olivia, who went to Marlborough Faculty, just like the Princess of Wales and Princess Eugenie, is senior account supervisor at Belazu, an environmentally pleasant firm which imports chef-quality, sustainably-sourced elements.
Hugh has more and more began to provoke numerous eco-friendly practices, together with renewable power tasks, inexperienced constructing codes and biodiversity conservation efforts.
