British high society – and plenty of Trinity grads – will be out in force on Friday for the wedding of the Duke of Westminster Hugh Grosvenor to Olivia Henson.

Although keeping a pretty low profile, the Duke is one of Britain’s wealthiest men with an apparent net worth of more than £10billion so needless to say, their nuptials are expected to be quite the lavish affair.

Without sounding like we’ve entered an episode of Bridgerton, Olivia will become a Duchess once the couple says I Do in Chester Cathedral and since her and Hugh’s engagement was announced there have been plenty of comparisons drawn between her and another former bride who married into a very well-connected and well-watched family, Kate Middleton.

Yes, on the surface Kate and Olivia do have several similarities such as where they went to school (the well-respected Marlborough College which Princess Eugenie also attended) and how many siblings they have (two each) but are these really defining factors?

PRINCE WILLIAM AND CATHERINE SMILE FOLLOWING THEIR MARRIAGE AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY ON APRIL 29, 2011. PIC: GETTY IMAGES

Arguably, school is yes as it can set you on a path to higher education and a career as well as introduce you to people who are likely to remain your pals, but we’re sure there are thousands of women out there who happen to have one brother and one sister.

HUGH GROSVENOR, THE SEVENTH DUKE OF WESTMINSTER, WITH OLIVIA HENSON. PIC: GROSVENOR2023

Both Olivia and Kate are the eldest daughters of three children with Olivia, 31, having a brother, Jasper, 29, and a sister Emilia, 26, who will no doubt have roles to play at her wedding and draw the attention of cameras. Kate, 42, is the eldest of her sibling trio, with Pippa, 40, and James, 37, receiving huge attention after she married into the royal family in 2011.

OLIVIA HENSON ARRIVES FOR HER WEDDING TO HUGH GROSVENOR, THE DUKE OF WESTMINSTER AT CHESTER CATHEDRAL. PIC: PETER BYRNE/PA WIRE

The most obvious comparison to make between Olivia and Kate though is that they look pretty similar with both women being slim and having long brown hair. Yes, it’s very surface level but it can’t be denied.

While it can be fun to spot similarities between people, most of us do it when we’re trying to find something in common with a new acquaintance, perhaps we should be a little wary about comparing Olivia and Kate.

THE DUKE OF WESTMINSTER AND MISS OLIVIA HENSON VISITING THE YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAMME AT STUDIO BY STORYHOUSE, CHESTER. PIC: PIC: VICTORIA TETLEY/GROSVENOR 2024

Firstly, they’re marrying very different people with very different expectations of attention. Kate is a working royal after marrying into the direct line of succession. Her husband Prince William is now the heir to the British throne and while it’s still up for debate whether that should mean they’re followed quite so intently by the press, they’re well aware that their lives are going to be reported on and events they attend covered.

HUGH GROSVENOR, EARL GROSVENOR (L), AND PRINCE WILLIAM ATTEND THE WEDDING OF EDWARD VAN CUTSEM AND LADY TAMARA GROSVENOR AT CHESTER CATHEDRAL IN 2004. PIC: GETTY IMAGES

Olivia meanwhile is more than likely to maintain her low public profile once she and Hugh say I Do, although perhaps we will see them pop up at charity events over the years. The Duke after all is not a royal. He does have a Peerage and did grow up with members of the British royal family, his godfather is King Charles and he’s godfather to Prince William and Prince Harry’s sons George and Archie so there’s no denying he’s closely entwined with them, but he’s not under the same level of scrutiny.

OLIVIA HENSON ARRIVES FOR HER WEDDING TO HUGH GROSVENOR, DUKE OF WESTMINSTER AT CHESTER CATHEDRAL. PIC: OLI SCARFF/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Also, in 2024 do we really need to be comparing women? Can’t Kate and Olivia have a few similarities in their past, which is undeniable, but also be their own women in their own rights?

So, as we sit back and soak up the grandeur of a high society wedding, spare a thought for Olivia who as well as facing the expected wedding day nerves will also be preparing for the cameras outside the cathedral.