The Duke and Duchess of Westminster have tied the knot in a ceremony at Chester Cathedral in front of 400 people.
Some were invited, such as Prince William, who served as the usher, and some not, such as two Just Stop Oil (JSO) protesters who caused a commotion.
In an event tipped to be the wedding of the year, Olivia Henson, 31, married Hugh Grosvenor, 33, who is regarded as one of the richest people in the UK with a fortune of about £10billion.
Prince William, who played a prominent role in the nuptials, arrived alone at the cathedral. Neither his wife, Princess Kate, nor his three children, accompanied him to the event.
King Charles and Queen Camilla also did not make an appearance, however Princess Eugenie was present, wearing a stunning an olive green dress and cream fascinator.
After the guests headed inside, the beautifulbride stole the show in a bespoke gown and veil designed by Emma Victoria Payne, a British wedding dress design specialist.
The wedding attire featured a custom embroidery pattern designed by Payne in a nod to Henson’s great great grandmother’s veil, incorporating floral motifs as found on the original from the 1880s.
After tying the knot, the newlyweds made their way outside while waving to the applauding crowds, where they shared a kiss.
However, they were soon stopped by two JSO protesters who used fire extinguishers to let off their signature orange smoke.
One of the women was heard shouting “Just Stop Oil” as the device was released, but the crowds drowned them out with their heckles and boos.
The duo were then restrained and then taken away by the police, with Cheshire Police later confirming that they arrested two individuals.
Following the disruption, guests including William and Eugenie emerged from the church and joined others in transport to travel back to the Duke of Westminster’s Chesire residence, Eaton Hall, for a private reception.
Besides many of the working royals, another notable absence was Prince Harry, a long-time friend of the Duke of Westminster for many years.
The Prince is understood to have remained in the US with his family due to a mutual understanding between Harry and William, with a source telling The Times that he has “agreed to stay away” in order to let his brother perform the key role in the ceremony.
The wedding was officiated by the Dean of Chester, the Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford and the service was sung by the Chester Cathedral Choir, joined by a group of musicians from North West England.
Chester has been 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 now be donated to local charities.
Residents of Chester were also offered free ice creams in honour of the special event, with the couple teaming up with three independent businesses to provide the sweet treats.
Ahead of the ceremony, a spokesperson for the couple released the following statement: “This is an incredibly special day for the Duke and Miss Henson and they are very much looking forward to the service.
“It means a lot to them to marry in Chester Cathedral, especially given the Grosvenor family’s long and close personal connection to both the Cathedral and the city of Chester.
“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.”
