There is a excessive society marriage ceremony on the horizon, as Hugh Grosvenor, the seventh Duke of Westminster, is because of marry his fiancée Olivia Henson in June.
The couple will tie the knot on Friday 7 June at Chester Cathedral, with the Prince of Wales and his son Prince George – who counts the groom as one among his godfathers and is rumoured to be a pageboy – anticipated to attend.
However who was Hugh’s father, Gerald Grosvenor, the 6th Duke of Westminster, who sadly handed away aged 64 in August 2016?
Gerald’s premature loss of life got here as a shock to his household and pals. Hailed one among Britain’s wealthiest males whose international property empire was estimated to be price £9billion and included swaths of Mayfair and Belgravia in London, Gerald was survived by his widow Natalia and their 4 youngsters Woman Tamara, Woman Edwina, Hugh, and Woman Viola.
Whereas out strolling, the late Duke instantly fell ailing on his Abbeystead Property in Lancashire. He was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital, the place he was later pronounced useless.
On the time, a Lancashire Police spokeswoman mentioned officers have been known as at round 5pm. She added: “He was airlifted to hospital after he had been taken ailing while strolling within the Trough of Bowland. There are not any suspicious circumstances and a file shall be handed to the coroner.”
Preston coroner’s officer confirmed that the Duke died of a coronary heart assault.
A personal funeral service was held three days after his loss of life. The late philanthropist and landowner was buried within the Outdated Churchyard at St Mary’s Church, Eccleston, within the Grosvenor household plot.
In November 2016, a larger-scale memorial service occurred at Chester Cathedral.
© ShutterstockThe Duke was an in depth confidante of the royal household, specifically the Windsors. King Charles requested Gerald to be a personal mentor to a younger Prince William, who in flip requested Gerald’s son Hugh to be godfather to his firstborn Prince George.
Gerald’s widow Natalia is a godmother to Prince William, whereas Princess Diana was a godmother to Woman Edwina.
In 2012, the late Duke was made a Commander of the Royal Victoria Order – a private present from Queen Elizabeth II – along with being a Knight of the Garter and a Companion of the Order of the Bathtub.
Buckingham Palace launched an announcement following his loss of life, confirming that the late Queen and Prince Philip have been conscious of his passing. “I can verify the Her Majesty the Queen is conscious of the information in regards to the Duke of Westminster. A personal message of condolence is being despatched by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh,” an announcement learn.
The then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge additionally mentioned in an announcement that they have been “very unhappy to study” of the Duke’s loss of life, including: “Their ideas are very a lot along with his household this morning.”
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