The beginning of June 2024 has been a good one for the British royals. On June 7, 2024, Olivia Henson tied the knot with the seventh Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor, formerly one of the most eligible royal bachelors.
Olivia Henson arrives at her wedding to Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster, at Chester Cathedral on June 7, 2024, in Chester, England | Source: Getty Images
Among the attendees was William, the Prince of Wales, who served as an usher. The event was held at Chester Cathedral in Chester, England.
Prince William at the wedding of The Duke of Westminster and Miss Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral on June 7, 2024, in Chester, England | Source: Getty Images
A royal correspondent, Cameron Walker, shared footage on X of the windy arrival of the bride at the cathedral, and netizens had a lot to say about the special day.
Olivia’s shoes took all the attention, with one person commenting, “Who else things (sic) the dark clunky heeled shoes are a fashion miss? They’re so distracting it’s all I can look at…” A second person concurred, saying, “Terrible shoes.”
Someone else added, “Really surprised at the shoes. I’ve never seen dark shoes with a white wedding dress. Strange choice. But she’s still a beautiful bride.” However, a fourth social media user had a different take writing, “Absolutely beautiful.”
Olivia Henson arrives at her wedding to Hugh Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster, at Chester Cathedral on June 7, 2024, in Chester, England | Source: Getty Images
According to Cameron, a GBN journalist, Emma Victoria Payne designed the bride’s gown. The bridal shop reimagined and hand-drew the bespoke embroidery design on the veil and gown. They added edgings from the bride’s great-great grandmother’s veil from around 1880.
Floral motifs were also included in the final look. The bride wore special jewelry specifically made for Grosvenor brides to wear on their wedding day. She also sported the Fabergé Myrtle Leaf Tiara that’s been in her husband’s family since its creation in 1906.
Olivia Henson arrives for her wedding to Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster, at Chester Cathedral on June 7, 2024, in Chester, England | Source: Getty Images
Her bouquet was put together from flowers picked from the Eaton Hall gardens. It had a medley of ox-eye daisies, scabious, astrantia, love-in-a-mist, iris, mock orange, martagon lily, rose, sweet pea, clematis, and meadow grass.
Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster, and Olivia Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster, after their wedding at Chester Cathedral on June 7, 2024, in Chester, England | Source: Getty Images
The bridesmaids were little girls all dressed in white and carrying bouquets of their own that looked similar to the bride’s. They also wore flowered tiaras on their heads.
Bridesmaids are directed as they arrive to attend the wedding of the Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson, at Chester Cathedral in northern England on June 7, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Olivia arrived in a black car and her father, Rupert Henson, held his daughter’s flowers before her arrival. He looked happy as he walked her down the aisle.
Olivia Henson arrives for her wedding to Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, where her father, Rupert, walked her down the aisle at Chester Cathedral on June 7, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
After exchanging their vows, the happy couple walked out of the cathedral to greet those gathered outside. The Duke was seen waving to those gathered, while the pair held hands as the bride’s veil flowed behind her.
Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster, and Olivia Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster, after their wedding at Chester Cathedral on June 7, 2024, in Chester, England | Source: Getty Images
The event was reportedly at the 11,000-acre Grosvenor estate close to Eaton Hall. The day after the wedding an intimate reception is meant to be held for close loved ones.
Guests leave Chester Cathedral after the wedding of Olivia Henson and Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster on June 7, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Not much was revealed about the receptions ahead of time except that the floral arrangements, food, and products used will either be regionally or locally sourced. Reports said Hugh wanted his special event to be a low-profile one, but that wasn’t the case.
King Charles III followed by Queen Camilla as they leave St. George’s Chapel, in Windsor Castle, after attending the Easter Mattins Service on March 31, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
The Duke shares a close relationship with Prince William and is King Charles’ godson. Duke Hugh is also the godfather to William’s eldest son, Prince George, as well as Prince Harry’s son, Prince Archie.
Prince William, Prince of Wales, at the wedding of The Duke of Westminster and Miss Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral on June 7, 2024, in Chester, England | Source: Getty Images
Ahead of Hugh’s wedding, in May 2024 it was revealed that Prince Harry would miss the event. Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has a close bond with the groom but allegedly chose not to attend to avoid drama.
Angela Levin, a royal biographer confirmed this by saying, “Harry […] says he doesn’t want to make a fuss there and disturb everybody.” Yet, she thinks there’s a different reason for his absence. Angela revealed that she didn’t think Harry got an invitation.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Day 2 of their Nigerian tour in Abuja, Nigeria on May 11, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
The biographer added, “They realised it would be very awkward for the royals to have him here, either for their own reasons or Harry said they don’t want to come, but I think it’s the former.” Harry’s wife, Duchess Meghan, also didn’t attend, as is the case for William’s wife, Princess Catherine.
Social media users weren’t very pleased with Harry missing out on the wedding. An X user commented“That’s sad. He should go anyways.” Another person felt the same way adding that the decision is “understandable.”
Prince William and Catherine and Prince Harry and Meghan arrive to view floral tributes to Queen Elizabeth II laid outside Cambridge Gate at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022, in Windsor, United Kingdom | Source: Getty Images
However, some people blamed Meghan for being the real reason why Harry wasn’t attending. Another X user shared“I’m sure this was Meghan’s decision not Harry’s.” Supporting the previous person’s notion, a netizen wrote, “She won’t let him go! He isn’t allowed to have friends!”
Sadly, a Facebook user thought the Prince of Sussex was just being mean stating, “Such a shame and spiteful and so childish.” It appears those who blamed the Sussexes forgot that the couple’s relationship with his royal family members isn’t great.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, leave after attending the National Service of Thanksgiving during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations on June 3, 2022, in London, England | Source: Getty Images
Still, a fascinating thing about Hugh’s wedding is William’s attendance despite the royal family being at odds with the Grosvenor in the past.
The tensions between the families came up ahead of Hugh’s sister, Lady Tamara Grosvenor’s wedding years ago. Angela stated, “With the wedding of their daughter in 2004, they wouldn’t let Camilla [now Queen Consort] sit next to [King] Charles because she wasn’t married to him.”
Hugh van Cutsem, Prince Harry, and Prince William at the wedding of Edward van Cutsem and Lady Tamara Grosvenor on November 6, 2004, in Chester, England | Source: Getty Images
The incident left the couple quite upset that they didn’t attend Edward van Cutsem and Lady Tamara’s wedding. The royal biographer noted how they didn’t talk to “the family for many years.” Despite that, it seems William and Hugh’s relationship endured.
Hugh Grosvenor, Earl Grosvenor, and Prince William at the wedding of Edward van Cutsem and Lady Tamara Grosvenor on November 6, 2004, in Chester, England | Source: Getty Images
Olivia’s new husband formed a strong bond with William and Harry and he and his family have been long-term supporters of the princes. This was evident when the princes lost their mother, Princess Diana.
Prince Harry speaks to guests and the Australian Invictus Squad as he attends the Official Launch of Invictus Games Sydney on June 7, 2017, in Sydney, Australia | Source: Getty Images
Like his son, Harry, King Charles also didn’t attend the wedding due to his cancer treatment and prior arrangements. A friend of Hugh’s addressed Harry missing the wedding saying, “He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realises it’s unlikely to happen before the wedding.”