Prince William played a significant role as an usher at his friend, the Duke of Westminster’s wedding, on Friday.
The Duke, Hugh Grosvenor, married his fiancée Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral at noon in what has been dubbed the high-society wedding of the year.
The couple dated for two years before announcing their engagement in April 2023, after Hugh proposed at his family home, Eaton Hall, located four miles from the cathedral and the venue for the wedding reception later this afternoon.
Flower-Adorned Chester Cathedral
On the morning of the wedding, the Grade I-listed cathedral appeared stunning, with a floral arch adorning its main doors. Inside, the cathedral was adorned with a variety of flowers including rambling roses, philadelphus, campanula, and orlaya grandiflora, as well as birch trees.
Well-wishers Line the Streets of Chester
Crowds began to gather early on Friday morning, eager to catch sight of the distinguished guests, the bride and groom, and Prince William.
Ahead of the wedding, Hugh, 33, acknowledged the interest in his big day, telling Town & Country: “I also just wanted to make it very clear how unbelievably helpful people have been, how supportive they’ve been so far which I’m unbelievably grateful for. Because I do realise that it’s going to be a big thing for the city. It’s going to be certainly a huge thing for us, so we’re just really grateful for all the help.”
Prince William Arrive
Dressed in a morning suit, William was seen arriving at Chester Cathedral with the other ushers in a Mercedes van, which dropped them off at a side entrance.
Princess Eugenie’s Surprise Attendance
Princess Eugenie, William’s cousin, had not been previously reported to be attending the wedding. However, she was seen in Chester enjoying pre-wedding drinks with other guests on Thursday night.
