From the flag-waving crowds lining the streets to the huge floral arrangements and heavy police presence, it was a royal wedding in all but name.
As the Duke and duch*ess of Westminster tied the knot in a lavish ceremony on Friday, an array of well-heeled guests, among them the Prince of Wales and Princess Eugenie, streamed into Chester Cathedral in an array of colourful finery.
For all of the bride and groom’s decidedly unflashy lifestyle, the wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, one of Britain’s wealthiest men, and his down-to-earth bride, Olivia Henson, was a grand affair.
Huge crowds, their phones aloft, cheered as the bride, bedecked in an ivory silk crepe satin gown and the Grosvenor family tiara, arrived at the church in a vintage Bentley.
After briefly battling with an unfortunately timed gust of wind that took hold of her train and veil, Ms Henson managed a nervous wave before making her way inside on the arm of her father, Rupert.
As the bridal party re-emerged into the June sunshine one hour later, not even Just Stop Oil protesters, who fired orange smoke from fire extinguishers, could dampen the mood.
Police swiftly arrested two women on suspicion of public order offences and led them away as they were booed by the crowd.
The disruption came after the newlyweds shared a brief kiss, as hundreds of well-wishers gave them a rousing three cheers.
The Duke and his new wife then led the way back to the family’s 11,000-acre Eaton Estate, where celebrations were due to continue late into the night.
It has been something of a whirlwind romance for the bride and groom, who were introduced by mutual friends in 2021.
For years, Tatler magazine had proclaimed the Duke Britain’s most eligible bachelor. But despite their extraordinary wealth, the couple enjoy a low-key lifestyle.
The Duke, known as Hughie to his friends, inherited his title on the untimely death of his father Gerald, 64, in 2016, and with it, the control of a fortune worth an estimated £10 billion.
But ever since their engagement was announced last April, the couple have been at pains to insist that the Chester community where they will put down their roots was at the heart of their celebration, funding the distribution of free ice creams and donating the flowers to local charities. Guests were advised not to bring gifts.
The big day got underway at first light on Friday, as sniffer dogs patrolled the streets around the cathedral.
A sustainable brown carpet – a notable departure from the traditional red – was rolled out at the entrance below an impressive display of greenery erected over the doorway.
Much of the foliage for the wedding was sourced from the grounds of the family estate. The flowers included rambling roses, philadelphus, campanula and orlaya grandiflora, while birch trees lined the aisle of the cathedral.
Crowds gathered from the early morning, many dressed up in their Sunday best and others draped in Union flags.
Bunting and camping chairs lined the street as excited wellwishers eagerly awaited the arrival of Prince William and the groom, himself a local celebrity.
Catharine Smith, 66, said: “The whole family have always been very decent people.”
“It’s brilliant for Chester,” said Eileen Turner, 70.
Shortly before 10.30am, a buzz of anticipation swept through the crowd. Prince William was on his way.
Minutes later, an unassuming van with blacked-out windows pulled up at a side entrance and out filed 11 suited and booted ushers, the heir to the throne among them.
Aware that this was not his day, Prince William kept his head down as he strolled quickly inside, ignoring the excited yells of recognition from the crowd.
Soon afterwards, the guests began to trickle in, a colourful parade of designer labels, elaborate hats, capes and handbags.
The 400-strong guestlist read like a who’s who of high society, including the tight network of close confidants that has long surrounded this exclusive social circle alongside old friends from university and prep school.
Among the first to arrive was Thomas van Straubenzee, Princess Charlotte’s godfather, who arrived with his wife Lucy, who taught at George and Charlotte’s former school, Thomas’s Battersea.
Then came his brother, Charlie van Straubenzee and his wife Daisy Jenks. Princess Eugenie, in a sleek olive-green dress and veiled cream hat, was accompanied by Violet Henderson-Vestey, a former Vogue editor and author.
As coach after coach pulled up at the cathedral, the unassuming city street was transformed into a glamorous catwalk.
The mother of the groom, Natalia Grosvenor, now styled the Dowager duch*ess of Westminster, wore an eye-catching pink dress and matching fascinator.
She waved and smiled as she walked into the cathedral with her three daughters, Lady Tamara, Lady Viola and Lady Edwina.
At 11.15am, a huge cheer greeted the arrival of the groom, resplendent in a grey suit and pale pink tie, in a dark green Land Rover Defender.
If he was nervous, he didn’t show it, giving the crowd a jolly wave before being welcomed by the Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford. The vicar received a hearty pat on the arm before the groom strolled inside, his three best men in tow.
The unassuming Ms Henson was certainly not one to keep her guests guessing.
The bride pulled up at the cathedral minutes before 12pm, prompting yet more delighted cheers.
Those waiting for a glimpse of the dress were kept in suspense for a few minutes as she waited in the Bentley for her bridal party to be ushered inside. Among them was her mother, Caroline, her sister Emilia and three young flower girls, her new nieces Isla van Cutsem, Orla Snow and Zia Snow.
As the bride eventually emerged, she struggled to contain her long train and veil lifted as they were lifted by a sudden gust of wind.
There was a brief struggle as she paused outside the cathedral while dress designer Emma Victoria Payne made a valiant effort to hold down the layers of billowing fabric.
The simple ivory silk gown boasted a sleek silhouette with gathered sleeves and wide embroidered silk organza cuffs.
The back featured a dropped waist and a keyhole back with a detachable two-metre silk crepe satin train.
Meanwhile, the flowing veil incorporated floral motifs and edgings from Ms Henson’s great great grandmother’s veil, worn circa 1880.
It also featured the bride and groom’s initials and wedding date.
Miss Henson accessorised with the Grosvenor family’s Faberge Myrtle Leaf Tiara, created in 1906, while her “something blue” proved to be a pair of silk-velvet Silvia Lago bow-front heels.
She managed a nervous wave to the crowd before heading inside under an elaborate floral arch.
Exactly one hour later, the newlyweds emerged into the sunshine, beaming with delight and relief.
In true royal style, they paused to share a kiss for the cameras before two Just Stop Oil protestors did their best to derail proceedings with an untimely attempt to grab a headline.
As they set off fire extinguishers, firing orange smoke at the wedding party, there was a brief commotion before the police stepped in and bundled them off.
Two large coaches and several Mercedes vans then whisked the guests to the Eaton Hall estate for the reception.
Speaking ahead of the wedding, a spokesman for the couple said: “This is an incredibly special day for the Duke and Miss Henson and they are very much looking forward to the service.
“It means a lot to them to marry in Chester Cathedral, especially given the Grosvenor family’s long and close personal connection to both the Cathedral and the city of Chester. 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.”
The spokesman added: “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.”, as hundreds of well-wishers gave them a rousing three cheers.
