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The brand new Duke and Duchess of Westminster are settling into married life and their grand marriage ceremony at Chester Cathedral.
The newlyweds tied the knot yesterday in entrance of friends, together with Prince William earlier than celebrating with a reception on the Grosvenor household’s seat, Eaton Corridor.
Upon marriage, the bride, Olivia Henson has grow to be the brand new Duchess of Westminster – and already consideration has turned to any titles their future kids will inherit. Because it stands, any offspring can be affected by a centuries-old rule that additionally led to Hugh inheriting the immense Grosvenor fortune, estimated at £10bn.
Peerages solely move down the male line (referred to as male primogeniture), which implies that the peerage can solely be inherited by a male family member.
Due to this fact, if the Duke and Duchess have kids and their firstborn youngster is a woman, below the present legal guidelines, she won’t be entitled to inherit the Westminster title, nor the household fortune and property that goes with it.
As an alternative, she could be styled as Woman, whereas an eldest son could be referred to as Earl Grosvenor till he inherits the dukedom.
The identical rule additionally instantly impacted Hugh, who has two older sisters, Woman Tamara and Woman Edwina Grosvenor. When their father, Gerald Grosvenor, sixth Duke of Westminster, died in 2016, the household title went to Hugh, his third youngster and solely son.
His marriage has reignited the controversy over the archaic rule, with campaigners calling for a regulation change stopping youthful sons inheriting over firstborn daughters.
Conservative MP Harriet Baldwin’s proposed Hereditary Titles (Feminine Succession) Invoice goals to vary the regulation to permit feminine heirs to take a hereditary peerage or baronetcy. It is because of be given a second studying on 21 June.
With out the invoice, the couple’s title will mechanically move to their first son quite than their eldest youngster. But when handed, firstborn daughters could be handled equally to firstborn sons.
The Duke of Westminster’s inheritance got here with 140,000 acres of land in Oxfordshire, Cheshire, Lancashire and Scotland – and one other 300 in Mayfair and Belgravia, a portfolio value an estimated £10.127 billion.
