Multi-billionaire Duke of Westminster quietly celebrates personal victory

Prince William may be the UK’s biggest landowner, via the Duchy of Cornwall, but the Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor, has a very impressive real estate roster too, owning 1,750 listing buildings in the UK. He will be no doubt quietly celebrating the good news from the government, that strict rules prohibiting the modernisation of such buildings will be listed.

The Duke has passionately campaigned about the regulations that made it difficult to amend historic buildings, even for useful energy-efficient upgrades. Now, thanks to a revision of the laws, owners of such residences will find it easier to apply and make changes, The Times reports.

The document in question is the National Planning Policy Framework, and now local councils will be viewing such changes as “important public benefits” rather than the previous focus being on retaining a building’s heritage at all costs.

Tor Burrows, the duke’s chief sustainability officer called the original restrictions “completely mad” as the Duke fought to get them changed. 

Hugh previously expressed he would like to make amendments to many of his properties, and these are things like installing solar panels, window awnings and window glazing, all working to make them more energy efficient and also keep out heat during increasing UK heatwaves. 

This is more important than ever after the UK has experienced its hottest summer on record, with droughts affecting many places and hosepipe bans common across England. 

Hugh Grosvenor’s family life

© Getty

Hugh married Olivia Henson on 7 June 2024 at Chester Cathedral in Cheshire, with several royals in attendance. Prince William took on the special role of usher during the ceremony, while Princess Eugenie was among the high-profile attendees.

The couple went on to welcome daughter, Cosima, who was born on July 27, 2025. 

A statement released at the time read: “The Duke and Duchess of Westminster are thrilled to announce the birth of their baby daughter.

“They have named her Cosima Florence Grosvenor, who was born in London today, 27 July. Both the Duchess and Cosima are doing well. The Duke and Duchess now look forward to spending this special time together as a family.”

The name Cosima is of Greek and Italian origin, and it carries a beautiful, elegant meaning. The name is derived from the Greek word kosmos (κόσμος), which means order, harmony, or the universe.