Prince William arrives to be usher at wedding of George’s godfather Duke of Westminster
PRINCE William has arrived at what's been dubbed the society wedding of the year - with glam guests pouring in behind him.
Hugh Grosvenor, 33, is tying the knot with Olivia Henson, 31, at Chester Cathedral at noon today.
The star-studded event is set to bring in royals and high-profile guests alike.
Prince William will be an usher at the wedding was one of the first to arrive this morning - looking dapper in a suit.
Princess Eugenie was not far behind, as well as other guests dressed to the nines.
Many beamed as they waved to the crowds before filing into the church.
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Well-wishers had already started lining the streets near the chapel this morning, with dozens of police standing guard.
Many held the Union Jack high with pride, while others donned their nicest outfits for the occasion.
Hugh, who was once dubbed the UK's richest bachelor, is King Charles' godson, and the godfather of both Prince George and Archie.
Wills will be an usher at the wedding, while Prince Harry was said to have agreed not to attend to avoid clashes with his brother amid their rift.
The King and Princess Kate were said to have been invited to the big day, too, but it's understood they won't due to their health.
William and Harry have always had a close relationship with Hugh, and were both ushers at his sister's wedding in 2004.
And while it's reported Harry would have loved to have been there for Hugh's big day - he was snubbed after "challenges" came to light.
A source close to the Sussexes told People magazine: "There was an acknowledgement on both sides that it would be difficult for Harry to attend.
"It was an understanding between the two friends.
"The decision certainly avoided the inevitable clamour had estranged brothers Prince William and Prince Harry both attended the nuptials, eliminating the possibility of the big day being overshadowed for the couple."
The wedding, which appears to have taken inspiration from Wills' and Kate's in 2011, is set to be a lavish event.
The private ceremony will see around 400 guests file into the church, before they head back to Eaton Hall for the reception.
It was announced yesterday that the hundreds of well-wishers who line the streets near the chapel will be given free ice cream.
There's also expected to be an extensive A-list guest list.
It's not known how much is being spent on the lavish occasion, but it's expected to be a decent fortune.
For his 21st birthday in 2012, Hugh's father splashed a whopping £5million on a bash.
The Duke became a billionaire at the young age of 25, after his father Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor died in 2016 of heart attack aged 64.
Hugh was the youngest son of Gerald and Natalia Phillips – who can trace her own lineage back to Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.
This left him head of a property empire that has swept up more than 1,500 buildings around the world.
How Duke & fiancee's day is inspired by Kate
THE Duke of Westminster is tying the knot with his fiancee today - in a wedding that's taken inspiration from Princess Kate's big day.
Hugh Grosvenor, 33, is marrying Olivia Henson, 31, at Chester Cathedral, and it’s set to be the society wedding of the year.
The Duke, who was once dubbed the UK's richest bachelor, is King Charles' godson, and the godfather of both Prince George and Archie.
Prince William is set to be an usher at the wedding, while Prince Harry was said to have agreed not to attend to avoid clashes with his brother amid their rift.
The King and Princess Kate were said to have been invited to the big day, too, but it's understood they won't due to their health.
But it could feel like the Princess of Wales is there in spirit - the couple appear to have drawn decorative inspiration from when she and Wills wed in 2011.
Snaps of preparations at Chester Cathedral show van loads of flowers being brought in, with scaffolding surrounding parts of the church.
Workers could be seen hauling trees towards the venue, while bouquets of flowers lined the streets nearby.
The happy couple are said to have ordered 10,000 flowers in for the occasion, which 400 of their nearest and dearest will attend.
The greenery mirrors that of Kate and Wills' wedding, where they filled Westminster Abbey with trees.
Six field maple trees and two hornbeams lined the isle and sat near the altar for the Royal wedding.
Kate was also said to have brought in nearly 30,000 flowers for the wedding.
The Duke of Westminster is said to have paid to have 10,000 flowers planted throughout the city for the occasion - and they're all 100% British.
The Grosvenor Group owns about 300 acres of land in Mayfair and Belgravia - which is why Hugh is often described as owning "half of London".
In addition to this, they own major city centre developments such as Liverpool's ONE shopping centre, Tokyo apartments, a “large chunk” of Silicon Valley and Annacis Island, off Vancouver.
He and Olivia 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.
Olivia works for London-based food firm Belazu and is said to speak Italian and Spanish.
She will become the new Duchess of Westminster, once they are wed.
A spokesperson for him and Olivia this morning said: “The Duke and Miss Henson have taken a great deal of care in planning the wedding, putting their own personal stamp on all the arrangements and have made a conscious effort to involve local and regional suppliers in several aspects of the day.
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"This is an incredibly special day for the Duke and Miss Henson and they are very much looking forward to the service.
"The couple have also been moved by the messages of support they have received from around the region and are hugely grateful that people want to share in their happiness."
