The Princess of Wales, Kate, attended the opening ceremony of the Hope Street Centre in Southampton on Tuesday. The centre, aimed at providing a safe environment for women and their children during court proceedings, was introduced to Kate by Lady Edwina Grosvenor. Lady Edwina, the founder and chairwoman of the charity One Small Thing, is a family friend of the royals, being the goddaughter of the late Princess Diana.
Lady Edwina Grosvenor’s Background
Lady Edwina Grosvenor is the sister of Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster and also the godfather of Prince George. Both Lady Edwina and Hugh are children of the late Gerald Grosvenor, the 6th Duke of Westminster. Lady Edwina, in addition to her involvement with One Small Thing, is an investor and Ambassador of the Clink Restaurant chain, which trains prisoners in the catering industry. She holds a degree in criminology and sociology from Northumbria University and recently completed a master’s degree in Criminology and Crime Scene Management at Solent University. Furthermore, Lady Edwina sits on the advisory board to the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford and is a patron of Paladin, the country’s sole national stalking advocacy service. She married British TV presenter Dan Snow in a private ceremony in November 2010, and they have three children together. The couple attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in 2018.
Grosvenor Family Wealth
When the 6th Duke of Westminster, Gerald Grosvenor, passed away in 2016, Hugh Grosvenor inherited the family’s billion-pound fortune and estate. The Duke’s sudden death occurred after he suffered a heart attack while walking on his Abbeystead Estate in Lancashire. The Grosvenor Group, which is associated with the royal inner circle, possesses around 300 acres of land in Mayfair and Belgravia, as well as prominent city centre developments like Liverpool’s ONE shopping centre. According to the Sunday Times Rich List of 2022, Hugh and his family are estimated to be worth just under £10 billion, securing the 13th position among the UK’s wealthiest individuals. Recently, the Duke got engaged to Olivia Henson, his girlfriend of two years, in April.
Memorial Service and Philanthropy
During a memorial service for the late Duke, William and Kate joined other attendees at Chester Cathedral to pay their respects. Lady Edwina Grosvenor’s charitable endeavors extend beyond One Small Thing and the Clink Restaurant chain. She is also an ambassador for the Centre for Criminology in the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford and supports Paladin, the country’s only national stalking advocacy service.
The opening of the Hope Street Centre marked an important event for the Princess of Wales, as it provided an opportunity to reunite with Lady Edwina Grosvenor, a family friend with a notable background in criminology and philanthropy. The centre’s aim to create a safe space for women and their children during court proceedings aligns with Lady Edwina’s commitment to redesigning the justice system. Additionally, the article highlighted the immense wealth and influence of the Grosvenor family, as well as their philanthropic efforts.
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