Billionaire landowner the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, has died at the age 64.

A spokeswoman for his estate said he had suddenly become ill on his Abbeystead Estate.

He died on Tuesday afternoon at the Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire.

Image: The duke was a friend of Prince Charles

"His family are all aware and they ask for privacy and understanding at this very difficult time," the spokesman added.

"No further comment will be made for the time being but further information will follow in due course."


The duke was a friend of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, who were "deeply shocked and greatly saddened" by his death, Clarence House said.

The duke's wife, Natalia, is godmother to Prince William, while his son Hugh - who will inherit his fortune - is Prince George's youngest godfather.

A spokeswoman for Buckingham Palace 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."

According to Forbes, the duke was said to be worth around £9.35bn, making him the 68th richest billionaire in the world, and third in the UK.

He owned land in Belgravia, an area adjacent to Buckingham Palace and one of London's most expensive areas, as well as thousands of acres in Scotland and Spain.

Image: The Queen has sent a private message to the duke's family

A private man, he was forced to abandon his dream of a career as a professional soldier when he was 22 and became trustee of the Grosvenor Estate.

He inherited his title and became chairman of Grosvenor Holdings, the commercial arm of the estate, at the age of 27 when his father Robert died in 1979.

He suffered a nervous breakdown and depression in 1998, saying the pressures of business and the great number of public appearances he was making were to blame.

The duke supported a number of charities.

He made a £500,000 donation to farmers during the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak and paid thousands of pounds to some of his workers to help them meet what he described as the "insufferable" poll tax.

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."