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Hugh Grant finally ties knot at 57 as he marries Swedish girlfriend Anna Eberstein

Hugh Grant married Swedish retail director Anna Eberstein in London - DASA
Hugh Grant married Swedish retail director Anna Eberstein in London - DASA

Hugh Grant once said he was "not a massive believer in marriage," an institution he felt was "unromantic" because humans were not meant to be in long, faithful relationships.

But the 57-year-old actor, who was propelled to stardom playing a character who famously left his bride at the altar in Four Weddings and a Funeral, finally bit the bullet yesterday when he wed his Swedish girlfriend, Anna Eberstein, 39.

The couple, who have three young children together, married before close family members at Chelsea registry office, just a short distance from their West London home.

They were pictured hand in hand and beaming as they made their way down the confetti-strewn steps of the Old Town Hall on the Kings Road following the short ceremony shortly after 4pm. One or two guests took photographs on their mobile phones but the occasion was low-key and discreet.

The bride, who was holding their daughter, dressed down for the occasion in a short white skirt she was spotted wearing at the 2017 French Open, a smart, fitted blue shirt and espadrilles. She was also wearing a simple, gold wedding band.

Her new husband was dressed in a navy suit, sporting a rather unusual, large silver wedding ring featuring three stones.

Hugh Grant married Swedish retail director Anna Eberstein in London - Credit: DASA
Hugh Grant married Swedish retail director Anna Eberstein in London Credit: DASA

An onlooker said the small group was “full of smiles” when they stepped out into the sunshine.

“Everybody looked very happy and relaxed, it was obviously an informal occasion with only very close family members present,” they said.

“The group congregated on the steps and Grant stepped in right at the last minute, seemingly in a bid to attract attention.”

After leaving the town hall, the group, including Ms Eberstein’s parents and two brothers, Grant’s father and brother, and the couple’s two elder children, got into chauffeur driven cars and went to an undisclosed location.

Both families had earlier enjoyed lunch with their relatives at Colbert, a French bistro on nearby Sloane Square.

Hugh Grant married Swedish retail director Anna Eberstein in London - Credit: DASA
Hugh Grant married Swedish retail director Anna Eberstein in London Credit: DASA

Grant, one of the country’s most notorious bachelors, had a string of high profile relationships before meeting Ms Eberstein, a retail director, in a bar.

Best known was his 13-year romance with Liz Hurley, who remains one of his closest friends. They split in 2000, five years after he was caught with Hollywood prostitute Divine Brown.

He has had five children in the last seven years, two of them with Chinese receptionist Tinglan Hong.

Four months after the birth of his eldest daughter Tabitha, in September 2011, Grant was expecting another baby with Ms Eberstein. Three months later, it emerged that Miss Hong was pregnant by the actor again, this time with their son, Felix.

Hugh Grant's unusual wedding ring - Credit: DASA
Hugh Grant's unusual wedding ring Credit: DASA

Miss Eberstein had a son, John, in September 2012, a daughter in December 2015 and a third baby earlier this year.

In 2012, Grant said he was "not a massive believer in marriage."

In August 2016, Grant claimed the secret to a happy marriage was having affairs.

"Do I think human beings are meant to be in 40-year-long monogamous, faithful relationships? … No," Grant told US radio host Howard Stern.

"Whoever said they were? Only the Bible or something. No one's ever said that that's a good idea."

He argued that marriage brings out "possessiveness, ownership and jealousy" in a spouse, adding: “I think there's something unromantic about marriage. You’re closing yourself off."