Duke of Westminster's prestigious family title could be lost
The Duke of Westminster's title could be lost
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The Duke of Westminster’s prestigious family title could be lost if he and his bride do not have a son.
Hugh Grosvenor, 33, will marry duchess-to-be Olivia Henson in a lavish ceremony at Chester Cathedral today, in what is tipped to be the wedding of the year.
If the newlyweds have no son, then the historic Duke of Westminster title will die with him.
However, Henson’s step-first-cousin twice removed through marriage will keep the subsidiary title, the Marquess of Westminster, alive.
The Duke of Westminster's title could be lost
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The Earl of Wilton, who lives in Melbourne, is also the Duke’s fourth cousin once removed.
More commonly known as Francis Ebury, he moved from London to Hong Kong whilst he pursued a career in the financial industry.
He then took a doctorate in Philosophy-Arts at Melbourne University where he also taught.
Born in 1934, the Eton-educated academic also served as a director of the Australian city’s Victorian Opera until 2017.
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Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster will marry Olivia Henson on June 7Grosvenor 2023 / PA
The Duke arriving at his wedding to Olivia Henson
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He has declined to comment on the possibility of inheriting the title.
The newlyweds’ shared cousin is proof “that blue-blooded marriage intermarriage is here to stay”, said Australian historian Michael Reed.
“However, putting aside the magnificent surrounds of Cheshire’s Eaton Hall – which Olivia will call home – it may be an understatement to say that some of the wedding reception small-talk about title-grabbing and the like could be awkward,” he told The Telegraph.
“It is a fascinatingly strange situation in which she finds herself: if she doesn’t produce an heir, her husband’s title will die with him – and yet it is her own relative who can rightfully claim the title as his own.”
If the newlyweds have no son, then the historic Duke of Westminster title will die with him
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Prince William arrives at the wedding at Chester Cathedral
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The family’s sprawling estate will also host the 400 wedding guests on Friday’s service, including Prince William, who will serve as the groom’s usher.
Chester will be decorated with 100,000 flowers paid for by the Duke, who has topped the Sunday Times 40 Under 40 Rich List. Following the ceremony, they will then be donated to local charities.
Speaking to The Chester Standard, the Duke of Westminster explained: “We've obviously got a long association with the cathedral as a family so we were here for my father's memorial, my sister's wedding and every Remembrance Sunday that I can attend is here.
“But I'm unbelievably excited and I also 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, big thing for the city.”