A care worker from Norfolk disrupted the "society wedding of the year" by releasing plumes of orange smoke from a fire extinguisher. 

The 73-year-old called Polly was one of two protesters who had waited among the thousands who had lined the streets of Chester for the wedding between the Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson.

Shortly after 1pm, as the couple left the cathedral with the wedding party, which included the Prince of Wales as an usher, orange smoke was released from an extinguisher-type device with one of the women shouting “just stop oil”.

Police quickly intervened and arrested the womenPolice quickly intervened and arrested two women (Image: Just Stop Oil) Officers quickly intervened and arrested two women on suspicion of public order offences.

In a statement released on the Just Stop Oil website, Polly said: “Weddings are a time of coming together in celebration to make a commitment to the future.

"However, for countless millions around the world there is no future unless we come together to stop oil and gas.

Olivia Henson and Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster leave Chester Cathedral after their weddingOlivia Henson and Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster leave Chester Cathedral after their wedding (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire) "That’s why we are demanding that the next UK government work with other countries to phase out fossil fuels by 2030.”

Barbara Williams, 81, from Cheshire, who was standing next to the protesters in the crowd, said: “I feel a bit shaken after it - we were standing next to them all day.”

Her friend Andrea Machin, 56, added: “They were already here when we arrived at 7am, they had shopping trolleys with them.

The Prince of Wales leaves Chester Cathedral after the wedding of Olivia Henson and Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of WestminsterThe Prince of Wales leaves Chester Cathedral after the wedding of Olivia Henson and Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

“Everyone was watching the bride and groom and then we just saw orange and they had what looked like a fire extinguisher with them.

“The police realised quite quickly what was happening and pulled them out.

"One of them said it was for her grandchildren.

Members of the public wait for guests to arrive for the wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, to Olivia Henson at Chester CathedralMembers of the public wait for guests to arrive for the wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, to Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

"It happened just as William was coming out of the door.”

Rhona Dalziel, 57, added: “One of them had been reading a Richard Osman book. It’s bizarre.”

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said the two women remain in custody.