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Duke Of Westminster Dies After Sudden Illness
The Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, formerly the most senior officer in what was the Territorial Army, has died aged 64.
A Clarence House spokeswoman said the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are "deeply shocked and greatly saddened" by the sudden death.
Paying tribute, the Soldiers' Charity, which the Duke supported, said he had been involved in the "championing of soldiers and veterans" and "will be very fondly remembered".
The landowner was said to be worth around $10.8 billion (£8.3bn), according to Forbes, making him the 68th richest billionaire in the world, and third in the UK. He had bought Stanford Hall, which will become the new Defence and Rehabilitation Centre.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will send a message of condolence to the Grosvenor family
In 1973, when he was 22, he became trustee of the Grosvenor Estate and was forced to abandon his dream of a career as a professional soldier in his uncle's regiment, the 9th/12th Lancers.
Instead, he served in the Territorial Army, receiving an OBE in 1994 for his work as a volunteer soldier.
One of the Duke's four children, his only son Hugh, is Prince George's youngest godfather, while his wife Natalia is godmother to the Duke of Cambridge.
The Duke had owned 190 acres in Belgravia, adjacent to Buckingham Palace, and one of London's most expensive areas, as well as thousands of acres in Scotland and Spain.
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said:
"I can confirm that Her Majesty the Queen is aware of the news about the Duke of Westminster. A private message of condolence is being sent by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh."
The Duke suffered a nervous breakdown and depression in 1998, saying the pressures of business and the great number of public appearances he was making overcame him.
He became the sixth Duke of Westminster at 27 when his father died, and later credited himself with using his vast wealth responsibly.
He supported a number of charities and good causes, including making a £500,000 donation to farmers during the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak.
Of his wealth he once said:
"Given the choice, I would rather not have been born wealthy, but I never think of giving it up. I can't sell. It doesn't belong to me."
Cover image: The Duke behind his desk in 1988 (picture: Allan Warren)
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