Royals

Prince George’s godfather Hugh Grosvenor inherits half of London

Hugh Grosvenor has just become London’s youngest billionaire.
Hugh Grosvenor

Hitting the number three spot in Britain’s rich list, the 25-year-old has inherited an approximate £9 billion fortune, following the death of his father Gerald Grosvenor.

According to Google converter that’s a whopping $15,194,040,327.85.

The young Brit also gets the title of 7th Duke of Westminster and their family home, Eaton Hall.

But who is the UK’s newest billionaire?

William asked his family friend to be his son’s godfather – making him the youngest and richest from the bunch!

Hugh is pictured as a baby with his dad and mother, Natalia Ayesha Phillips

He is Gerald and Natalia’s third child and has three sisters.

The eldest of the dapper chap’s siblings is Lady Tamara, 36, who is married to one of Prince William’s best friends, Edward van Cutsem.

Then there is 34-year-old Lady Edwina who is the wife of British TV presenter and historian Dan Snow, and the family’s youngest member is 23-year-old Lady Viola.

While Hugh is obviously not the oldest child, British law dictates that male children inherit a will ahead of female children, irrespective of age.

The three girls are still set to inherit a rather considerable trust fund.

Lady Edwina and Dan Snow’s wedding in 2010 [Hugh circled].

A dear friend of the royals, the Duke is especially close to Prince Charles, with the next-in-line-to-the-throne asking his wife to be Prince William’s godmother.

The family have managed to lead a life out of the spotlight, despite their vast wealth.

Hugh’s parents are exceptionally close to the royals.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge released a statement, saying, “their thoughts are very much with his family this morning” and the Queen sent a private message to the family.

Keeping in tradition, Gerald’s only son is Prince George’s godfather, while his wife, Natalia is Prince William’s godmother.

The Duke is said to own “half of London”, pictured with Dannii Minogue.

The new Duke with his brother-in-law, Dan Snow.

Not giving into their pedigree, the parents gave their children normal childhoods, sending them to the local state primary school, before all the kids attended a local private high school.

His late father spoke fondly of his little one back in 1992 during a chat with The Independent.

“My main object will be to teach him self-discipline and a sense of duty. He’s been born with the longest silver spoon anyone can have, but he can’t go through life sucking on it. He has to put back what he has been given.”

Watch the Duke chat to the BBC in a candid interview. Post continues!

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Doing just that, Hugh went on to study at Oxford and now works for coffee recycling firm Bio-bean, which collects waste coffee grounds and converts them into biofuels and biomass pellets.

But what’s the use of being a billionaire if you can’t have a little fun?

For Hugh’s 21st birthday, his parents threw him a birthday bash costing an approximated £5 million.

800 of his closest friends and family were invited including Prince Harry, while British comedian Michael McIntyre and hip hop band Rizzle Kicks provided the entertainment.

“The party was simply amazing – a birthday and a party I will never forget. It is the beginning of a new era in my life and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead,” the birthday boy told his local paper, The Chester Chronicle.

Following the death of Gerald, a friend of Hugh’s spoke of the 25-year-old to The Sun.

Prince William and Duchess Catherine following the birth of their son…

To think this billionaire will be a guiding force for little Prince George.

“You’d never have known that his dad was a billionaire. He never flashed the cash although he would often put his hand in his pocket to buy a round of drinks,” the told the British publication.

“He’s a really down-to-earth bloke who never acted like a toff and is just a really good guy.”

Hugh’s relationship status is currently unknown, but if he is single, the lad from Eaton has just skyrocketed to one of the world’s richest bachelors.

Hugh and Harry have been dear friends for decades.

In fact, Hugh, pictured in the blue shirt, joined the Prince during his time in Africa last year.

The pair had a splendid time at the African safari.

Three years ago Vanity Fair described him as “baby-faced” and “absurdly rich”, while the Tatler List mused, “Hughie’s a Newcastle graduate with his own wine collection who goes wild for girls in neon.”

They also kindly noted that after inheriting his father’s estate he would “own half of London”.

We’re sure Prince Harry will give him a few pointers on life in the fast lane, after all the pair both went to Africa together, following the 31-year-old’s retirement from the army.

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