Who is Olivia Henson, fiancée of Hugh Grosvenor and the future Duchess of Westminster?
OLIVIA Henson is living a life that fairytales are made of, after it was revealed she was set to marry the Duke of Westminster.
With royal connections and billions in the bank, the Duke was once described as “Britain’s most eligible bachelor’ – that was until his future Duchess swept him off his feet.
Who is Olivia Henson and how old is she?
Olivia Henson was born on September 1, 1992, in London, which makes her 31 (as of February 2024).
During her childhood, she attended the same school as the Princess of Wales, Marlborough College.
The Duke and Miss Henson became engaged at Eaton Hall in April and have been incredibly grateful for the warm messages of congratulations they have received since then.
Olivia and Hugh's engagement announcement
In April 2023, it was announced that Olivia was to marry Huge Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster.
This means she will become the new Duchess of Westminster, once they are wed.
The happy couple met through friends in 2021, after two years of dating, the Duke proposed to her at Eaton Hall, which is his sprawling family estate in Cheshire.
Before he started dating Olivia, Hugh was in an on-off relationship with Harriet Tomlinson for several years.
The pair met at college and split up, only to get back together on numerous occasionss.
When will Olivia Henson marry Hugh Grosvenor?
Olivia’s marriage to the Duke of Westminster will take place on June 7, 2024, at Chester Cathedral.
Announcing the wedding, a spokesperson for the pair said: “The couple have chosen the cathedral for both its beauty and long association with the Grosvenor family, including to the Duke personally.
“Cheshire is the Grosvenor family’s ancestral home and as Miss Henson’s connection to the region continues to grow, they are keen to plan their wedding there.”
The Duke’s parents, the late 6th Duke of Westminster and Natalia Phillips, were also married at the cathedral on October 7, 1978.
Just like his mother and father’s nuptials, Hugh and Olivia will also welcome members of the Royal family to their wedding.
However, in December 2023 it was reported how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are NOT on the guest list.
This is despite Hugh and Harry being childhood friends.
However the Prince and Princess of Wales are both expected to attend – with reports suggesting William could even be best man.
Both royal couples have the Duke of Westminster as godfather to their children – William and Kate’s son Prince George as well as Harry and Meghan’s son Prince Archie.
Yet only one pair has been invited to the wedding, according to the Sunday Times.
Sources told the publication that the engaged couple are said to have avoided inviting Harry and Meghan to what’s been called “the wedding of the year” to avoid any potential awkwardness for the Royal Family.
Hugh had reportedly wanted the Sussexes to attend but decided against it.
A friend was quoted as saying: “It’s incredibly sad it has come to this – Hugh is one of very few close friends of William and Harry’s who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both.
“He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realises it’s unlikely to happen before the wedding.
“He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and doesn’t want any awkwardness.”
A spokesman for the Duke declined to comment, as did Buckingham Palace.
What does Olivia Henson do for a living?
Olivia is an account manager for ethical food firm Belazu.
Based in London, the company is an environmentally friendly B-corp which imports high-quality ingredients from across Europe.
This ranges from rose harissa and preserved lemons to partridge, port and estate-shot venison.
Meanwhile, her husband-to-be is the head of a property empire that has swept up more than 1,500 buildings around the world.
His portfolio includes the entirety of posh Park Lane and half of Mayfair.
Because of this Hugh is often described as owning “half of London”.
He became a billionaire at the age of 25, after his father Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor died in 2016 of heart attack aged 64.
Hugh is the 7th Duke of Westminster, after his late father who was 6th.
Although he is the third child of Gerald and Natalia Grosvenor, ancient laws meant that as the first son, he inherited the bulk of the fortune over his older sisters.
Before becoming the 7th Duke of Westminster, he was known as Earl Grosvenor.
He went on to study at a small private school, Mostyn House in Cheshire, followed by Ellesmere College in Shropshire, and studied countryside management at Newcastle University.
Hugh’s family rank as the 12th richest in the whole country, according to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2023.
According to The Times, friends have said of the Duke: “Hugh is quite low-key.
“He takes his roles very seriously but when he’s not working he’s relaxed.”
Is the Duke of Westminster related to the royal family?
Hugh’s father was the late Queen‘s 14th cousin once removed.
He was also considered a mentor to William at the request of Her Majesty.
Hugh is the fourth cousin once removed of King Charles.
In 2013, the Duke became the godfather to the Prince of Wales‘s eldest child, Prince George.
Meanwhile, Hugh’s older sister Lady Tamara, 43, is married to Prince William‘s pal Edward van Cutsem.
Duke of Westminster's Properties
The Grosvenor family originally made their fortune from mining before turning their eye to the property world.
Hugh inherited an impressive property portfolio when his father passed away.
The Duke owns the entirety of London’s Park Lane and half of Mayfair.
As well as this, the properties Hugh owns include:
- Eaton Estate – the 11,500-acre Grosvenor family home in Cheshire.
- Abbeystead – the 23,500-acre shooting estate in Lancashire.
- Finca La Garganta estate – the 37,000-acre plot in rural Cordoba near Seville, Spain.
- Reay Forest in Sutherland, Scotland.