The 33-year-old recently moved to Cheshire, where he will wed his long-term girlfriend today at Chester Cathedral, officially ending his title as ‘Britain’s most eligible bachelor’.
Grosvenor is also godfather to Prince George, and it’s reported that Prince William will serve as an usher today.
Wedding fever has gripped Chester in earnest ahead of what’s being described as ‘Britain’s poshest wedding’, and the happy couple have been getting involved in turning their big day into a city-wide celebration.
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The Duke and Olivia have paid for everyone to have free ice cream from three local businesses all day long today, Friday 7 June.
The Duke, who inherited his title and a huge land and property portfolio at the age of just 25, also sponsored the Summer Flowers project this year.
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It’s seen more than 100,000 flowers planted across the city and Chester is bursting with colour as a result.
It’s likely there’ll be no expense spared for the lavish celebration and it may be the most elaborate wedding the country will see for several years to come.
It’s had the entire city in an excited tizzy and Chester, already one of the most picturesque cities in the country, is looking better than ever for the big day.
Enormous floral arrangements now adorn the historic Chester Cathedral entrance, everything in town is sparkling, and local shops have created special displays in honour of the happy couple.
The Eastgate Clock on the City Walls was lit up in red white and blue last night ahead of what is, essentially, the north west’s royal wedding.
Chester BID shared yesterday: “As part of local celebrations for their wedding, The Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson are delighted to support three fantastic independent businesses by subsidising free ice cream, gelato or sorbet for those who visit the city centre this Friday 7th June.
“@krumgelato will be opening at 10am and scoop on the day until stock lasts! Offering a single scoop of a range of gelato flavours as well as lemon sorbet (the theme of the couple’s wedding cake) using very special Italian lemons to be served exclusively on Friday.
“@cheshirefarm_icecream based in @newchestermarket is also offering a range of Cheshire Farm single-scoop ice-creams or slices of a new lemon-sponge flavoured arctic roll.
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“AND Diddy Donuts underneath the Eastgate Clock is offering a single scoop of ice-cream, a small portion of their donuts or water, tea and coffee. Who wants ice cream?”
Featured image: Unsplash, Rachel Hannah
Cheshire
Chester Zoo is giving away more than 30,000 FREE tickets to children
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo is giving away thousands of tickets to local schools to help inspire a new generation of young conservationists.
The UK’s largest charity zoo is on a mission to help nature to “survive and thrive”.
And so, in a bid to do just that, has announced that it will once again be handing out tens of thousands of tickets to schoolchildren for completely free of charge, so that they can explore the zoo up close and learn all about the inspiring work the conservation charity does.
Chester Zoo‘s free ticket scheme has been running since 2017, and has already seen more than 175,000 children get to experience all the wonders the zoo has to offer.
We’re giving away 32,750 FREE tickets to the zoo! 🚨
Schools, nurseries, and colleges across the UK – this is your chance to inspire future conservationists and ignite a passion for helping wildlife thrive! 🌍💚
With the hopes of empowering as many youngsters as possible, and sparking their passion for saving species once again, the zoo has now opened the scheme back up for the 2025/26 season – with a whopping 33,000 tickets available for schools, nurseries, and colleges to claim.
Those who secure tickets will have the opportunity to visit the zoo between this November and February 2026.
Applications are open to any school in the UK that hasn’t already benefitted from the scheme within the last four academic years, while home educators are also eligible to apply as a group through a Home Educators’ Network.
Chester Zoo is giving away more than 30,000 free tickets to children this year / Credit: Chester Zoo
“We’re offering thousands of children the opportunity to experience the wonders of the natural world firsthand at the zoo,” commented Charlotte Smith, who is the Director of Conservation Education and Engagement at Chester Zoo.
“Young people are more concerned than ever about nature decline and climate change, and by working closely with schools across the UK, we can provide them with the skills, knowledge and inspiration to make a real positive difference.”
She added that “every child has the potential to be a future conservationist”.
Places are limited each day to ensure everyone can enjoy their zoo visit – with priority given to schools who have not benefitted from the scheme before.
You can find out more and apply for free tickets here.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
Cheshire
Chester Zoo issues statement after people slam ‘totally ridiculous’ prices for safari-style lodges
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo has defended the pricing for its new overnight safari-style lodges as people branded it as ‘totally ridiculous’.
Already being described as “the ultimate African safari experience right here in the UK”, some of the lodges will be located at the side of a lake, while others will offer views of a private savannah-style habitat that are home to Northern giraffes.
Bookings officially went live last Wednesday (29 January), and demand was “nothing short of phenomenal”, with the website crashing for a brief period and more than 550 bookings made so far.
But merely moments after this, people began hitting out at the prices for overnight stays.
Those working on the “very special” project say a stay at The Reserve will help to fund Chester Zoo’s global conservation projects.
Chester Zoo has issued a statement after people slammed the ‘totally ridiculous’ prices for safari-style lodges / Credit: Supplied
In the off-season, prices for the lodges start from £375, while one-night stays in summer start from £672.50, and then in peak season, for the more luxurious lodges, prices can go all the way up to £2,486, but it’s worth nothing that this does include guided safari tours and going behind-the-scenes with the giraffes.
“As an international wildlife charity we wholly rely on public funding to carry out our species-saving work,” a Chester Zoo spokesperson said in defence of the pricing.
“The Reserve is the latest way that people may wish to help to directly fund our global conservation projects and make a difference to the future of some amazing, but sadly endangered, species.
“A stay at The Reserve includes so much more than a room for the night.
“Packages include elements such as a range of exclusive behind-the-scenes and animal experiences, breakfast, dinner and out-of-hours access to the zoo, as well as two-day passes and the chance to view wildlife straight from your lodge balcony.”
Find out more and book your stay in the new lodges on the Chester Zoo website here.
Daisy Jackson -
7th June 2024 
