by The newlywed Duchess of Westminster is seen wearing her ivory silk gown in the gardens of her new estate in the first official pictures of the society wedding of the year.
The Duke of Westminster and his bride gave a “special thank you” to well-wishers as they released images of Friday’s event.
Among them is an elegant portrait of the Duchess, Olivia Henson, wearing her dress with a two meter train designed by Emma Victoria Payne.
Holding a bouquet of flowers picked from the grounds of Eaton Hall, the Duchess smiles as her gown, with its incredible embroidery design, is laid out for display.
Captured by photographer Benjamin Wheeler, the mini album gives a glimpse into the reception at the couple’s Cheshire estate.
Hand-in-hand, the pair are also pictured in an eye-catching black-and-white photo as they are presented by delighted guests.
Releasing the pictures, the Duke and Duchess of Westminster thanked those in Chester who shared their big day.
They said: “We are extremely grateful to everyone who supported us yesterday and would like to say a special thank you to those in Chester who helped make our day one to remember.
“We have been overwhelmed by the great support and well wishes from all of us.”
Their gratitude comes after the pair tied the knot in an impressive ceremony at Chester Cathedral on Friday, watched by celebrity guests including the Prince of Wales and Princess Eugenie.
Ahead of the service, which was presided over by the Most Reverend Dr Tim Stratford, Dean of Chester, the pair are said to have made specific choices of scripture and hymns that are very “significant to them”.
The Telegraph can reveal that the pair settled on three hymns including I Vow to Thee My Country and Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.
The reception at the Eaton Hall estate featured jazz music and “delicious canapés”, and the evening party treated guests to a spectacular firework display that could be seen from Chester city centre, nearly five miles away.
Speaking after the ceremony, the Dean said: “It was very beautiful, everything went swimmingly. He was very dignified and loving.”
He added: “The reception was lovely. There was live music. it [the food] it was beautiful and very tasty”.
The Most Reverend Mark Tanner, Bishop of Chester, who preached at the service, said: “It was a beautiful event and it’s a great honor to host it here. Chester is scrubbing well.”
The big day started at first light on Friday, with sniffer dogs patrolling the streets around the cathedral.
A sustainable brown carpet – a significant departure from the traditional red – was laid out at the entrance below with a stunning display of greenery erected above the door.
Much of the wedding foliage was sourced from the grounds of the family estate.
Flowers included wild roses, philadelphus, campanula and orlaya grandiflora, and birch trees lined the aisle of the cathedral.
Crowds gathered from early morning, many dressed up in their Sunday tops and others covered in the Union flag.
Bunting and camping chairs lined the street as the well-wishers eagerly awaited the arrival of the Prince of Wales and the groom, himself a local celebrity.
Even a pair of Just Stop Oil activists, who were arrested after trying to disrupt the wedding, could not dampen spirits.
The activists – an NHS nurse and a care worker – released a fire extinguisher, spraying orange powder as the newlyweds left Chester Cathedral.
In the nearby village of Eccleston, residents held a small private party at the town hall on Saturday to mark the event.
The Duke, known to his friends as Hughie, inherited his title on the death of his father, Gerald, in 2016, and with it control of a fortune worth £10 billion.
But since announcing their engagement last April, the couple have been keen to make the Chester community where they put down their roots be at the heart of their celebrations, funding the distribution of free ice creams and handing out flowers to locals . charities.
His bride, who grew up in London and Oxfordshire, worked in the sustainable food and drink industry, most recently at Belazu, a London-based artisan food company.
The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex were ushers at the wedding of his sister Lady Tamara Grosvenor at the cathedral in 2004.
Meanwhile, it has been suggested that a 90-year-old academic living in Australia could be the savior of the Duke’s family title which was bestowed on his ancestors at the coronation of William IV in 1831.
If the newlyweds do not have a son, the historic title of Duke of Westminster will die with him.
However, his title, Marquess of Westminster, will live on through the Earl of Wilton, his cousin once removed, who lives in Melbourne and also happens to be related, by marriage, to Ms Henson.
