NORTHERN Irish billionaire landowner the Duke of Westminster has died at the age of 64.
Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor was born in Omagh, County Tyrone in 1951, and raised at Ely Lodge on the shores of Lough Erne. died at the Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire on Tuesday after suddenly becoming ill on his Abbeystead Estate.
He died at the Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire on Tuesday August 9, after suddenly becoming ill on his Abbeystead Estate.
He was educated at Harrow School, where he gained two O-levels, which he attended after moving to London from Fermanagh.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs Mr. Grosvenor detailed his childhood in Northern Ireland.
"I had this wonderful childhood in Northern Ireland, I was quite happy and contented to have lived there all my life.
He explained: "I had this wonderful childhood in Northern Ireland, I was quite happy and contented to have lived there all my life. I know what I wanted to be, I wanted to farm, and take it all rather gently, I thought. And then because my uncle had no children, sadly his oldest son did die at a very early age it was rather forced upon me.
"I didn't actually know that I was going to inherit all this until I was about 15. I choose to run that part, of which I have control over, in a certain way for not only the benefit of myself, which clearly there is but also the benefit of that part of London."
Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster (L) died in his home at the age of 64. (Photo Neil Mockford/Getty Images)The Duke, who was worth an estimated £10.8bn (approx £8.26billion) according to the 2016 Forbes rich list, became the sixth Duke of Westminster in 1979.
He had four children including his only son, Hugh Grosvenor, 25, who is heir to the dukedom. He is also Prince George's youngest godfather.
He was married to Natalia Grosvenor.
He credited himself with using his money responsibly and helped many rural and inner city areas financially, but never looked to sell his estate.
A friend of the royal family, Buckingham Palace expressed sadness at the news.
A 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."
