Olivia Henson smiles© Getty

Who is Olivia Henson, the new Duchess of Westminster?

Prince George and Prince Archie's godfather married the account manager on 7 June

Content Managing Editor
Updated: June 7, 2024

Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster,  has married senior account manager Olivia Henson, 31, in a beautiful wedding surrounded by close family and friends.

King Charles's godson met Olivia in 2021 through mutual friends, and the couple celebrated their engagement two years later in April 2023 with a casual photograph in the grounds of his family home, Eaton Hall in Cheshire. 

The 7th Duke of Westminster has often been referred to as 'the most eligible man in Britain' owing to his aristocracy, wealth and close friendships with both Princes William and Harry. He is godfather to both Prince George and Prince Archie.

© WPA Pool

Hugh is a close friend of Prince William

The Duke, or 'Hughie' as he is known to his friends, inherited the title and seat at Eaton Hall from his father in 2016 as well as 140,000 acres of land in Oxfordshire, Cheshire, Lancashire and Scotland, and 300 acres in Mayfair and Belgravia. He is worth an estimated £9.878 billion and is also the Chair of the Westminster Foundation, focused on helping vulnerable young children.  

Despite the fact she has married one of the richest men in Britain, very little is known about Olivia. Read on for everything we do know about the new Duchess of Westminster.

Education 

Hugh's fiancée attended the Dragon School in Oxford before joining Marlborough College, a co-educational private school for pupils aged 13-18. Princess Eugenie is a notable alumna. 

Olivia then went to study at the prestigious Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, achieving a 2:1 in Hispanic Studies and Italian.

Working life

Olivia is currently a senior account manager for Belazu, a B-corp and luxury food ingredient importer. The company deals in goods such as rose harissa and preserved lemons. Unlike the Princess of Wales, Olivia will not be required to give up work to take on royal duties. 

READ: 14 golden rules the royal family has to follow

Spotlight shy 

Little is known about the Duchess of Westminster, although that may change now the couple are wed. Unlike many of her generation, Olivia's online presence is minimal. 

© Getty

Hugh proposed to Olivia in a low-key way at Eaton Hall in Cheshire

Links with Princess Kate 

There are many similarities between the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Westminster.  They both attended Marlborough College, the private school where Princess Kate was captain of the hockey team. Both the Princess and the Duchess achieved a 2:1 at university and had successful careers before their marriages. 

 READ: Prince George's godfather Hugh Grosvenor's bride is strikingly similar to Princess Kate

© Getty

The Princess of Wales is a keen sportswoman

Like Princess Kate, Olivia has married into a prestigious family. The Duke has three sisters and is actually the third child, but inherited the family fortune due to primogeniture, a custom where the male heir takes precedence over female heirs.  

The eldest child of the late 6th Duke of Westminster Gerald Grosvenor and his wife Natalia is Lady Tamara van Cutsem, 44. She married Edward van Cutsem, 51, who is a close friend of the royal family. Keen-eyed royal fans will notice Edward was a page boy at Charles and Diana's wedding in 1981, and is actually King Charles's godson. 

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Edward Van Cutsem And Lady Tamara Grosvenor on their wedding day

The couple also married at Chester Cathedral, in 2004. 

Lady Edwina, 42, is a criminologist and philanthropist. She is married to Dan Snow, the historian and TV presenter many will know from History Hit. The duo attended Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018, and Lady Edwina was the late Princess Diana's goddaughter. 

© Getty

Edwina Louise Grosvenor and Dan Snow arrive for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

The Duke has one younger sister, Lady Viola, 31. She follows her family in her social consciousness, running an art therapy business. She married Angus Roberts of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, in a private ceremony in 2022. 

© Getty

Lady Viola Grosvenor at Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018

A spokesperson for the couple said: "The couple have chosen the cathedral for both its beauty and long association with the Grosvenor family, including to the Duke personally." 

Wedding day

The couple tied the knot at Chester Cathedral on 7 June, and both were greeted by loud cheers from the excited crowds before entering the church.

© Getty

Olivia Henson arrives to attend her wedding to the Duke of Westminster

The bride looked beautiful in an elegant gown of ivory silk made by London-based designer Emma Victoria Payne, complete with floral motifs and the couple's initials embroidered into the fabric. She wore the Grosvenor family's Faberge Myrtle Leaf Tiara, created in 1906.

Prince William was on the guest list, acting as usher on the day.

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