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| Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, dies aged 64 | Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, dies aged 64 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Billionaire landowner and philanthropist the Duke of Westminster has died aged 64, his estate said. | Billionaire landowner and philanthropist the Duke of Westminster has died aged 64, his estate said. |
| Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor died at the Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire on Tuesday after suddenly become ill on his Abbeystead Estate. | Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor died at the Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire on Tuesday after suddenly become ill on his Abbeystead Estate. |
| The duke's fortune was estimated at $10.8bn (£8.3bn) by Forbes magazine, making him the world's 68th richest person and the UK's third. | The duke's fortune was estimated at $10.8bn (£8.3bn) by Forbes magazine, making him the world's 68th richest person and the UK's third. |
| A friend of the Royal family, he became the sixth Duke of Westminster in 1979. | A friend of the Royal family, he became the sixth Duke of Westminster in 1979. |
| 'Privacy' | 'Privacy' |
| One of his four children, Hugh Grosvenor, the heir to the dukedom, is Prince George's youngest godfather. | One of his four children, Hugh Grosvenor, the heir to the dukedom, is Prince George's youngest godfather. |
| Giving news of the duke's death, a spokeswoman said: "His family are all aware and they ask for privacy and understanding at this very difficult time. | Giving news of the duke's death, a spokeswoman said: "His family are all aware and they ask for privacy and understanding at this very difficult time. |
| "No further comment will be made for the time being but further information will follow in due course." | "No further comment will be made for the time being but further information will follow in due course." |
| Among properties across the UK he owned 190 acres in Belgravia, an area near to Buckingham Palace, and one of London's most expensive districts. | Among properties across the UK he owned 190 acres in Belgravia, an area near to Buckingham Palace, and one of London's most expensive districts. |
| A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that Her Majesty the Queen is aware of the news about the Duke of Westminster. | 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." | "A private message of condolence is being sent by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh." |
| The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are "deeply shocked and greatly saddened" by the sudden death of their friend the Duke of Westminster, a Clarence House spokeswoman added. | The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are "deeply shocked and greatly saddened" by the sudden death of their friend the Duke of Westminster, a Clarence House spokeswoman added. |
| The Grosvenor family accrued much of their London wealth through the marriage of Sir Thomas Grosvenor to the heiress Mary Davies in 1677. | The Grosvenor family accrued much of their London wealth through the marriage of Sir Thomas Grosvenor to the heiress Mary Davies in 1677. |
| According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography she brought Grosvenor "the estates which would become the cornerstone of the family's later wealth". | According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography she brought Grosvenor "the estates which would become the cornerstone of the family's later wealth". |
| The estates were described as Ebury farm, east of Chelsea, and a large holding between Tyburn Brook and Park Lane in central London. Today these are part of the wealthy Belgravia and Mayfair districts. | The estates were described as Ebury farm, east of Chelsea, and a large holding between Tyburn Brook and Park Lane in central London. Today these are part of the wealthy Belgravia and Mayfair districts. |
| Educated at Harrow School, the duke worked on ranches in Australia and Canada before serving an informal apprenticeship in property management. | |
| He abandoned his dream of a career as a soldier in 1973 on becoming trustee of the Grosvenor Estate, but signed up to the Territorial Army and in 1994 was made an OBE for his work in the volunteer force. | He abandoned his dream of a career as a soldier in 1973 on becoming trustee of the Grosvenor Estate, but signed up to the Territorial Army and in 1994 was made an OBE for his work in the volunteer force. |
| The duke credited himself with using his wealth responsibly and gave financial support to both rural and inner-city areas with links to his estate. | The duke credited himself with using his wealth responsibly and gave financial support to both rural and inner-city areas with links to his estate. |