Duke of Westminster Faces Dilemma in Deciding His Child’s Godfather — Is It William or Harry?

Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, has always been in the rare position of being equally close to both Prince William and Prince Harry. But that friendship is now being tested as he considers who to name as godfather to his newborn daughter, Cosima. What ideally would be a simple and happy tradition for new parents has turned into a delicate choice for Grosvenor, whose ties to both brothers go back to childhood.

It is understood that William has already been made a godfather, The Independent reported, while friends of the Westminsters say no final decision has been made about Harry. Naming both brothers could be seen as a gesture of reconciliation, but the risk of reopening old tensions remains. There was speculation about William becoming a godfather soon after the baby’s birth, given his long-standing friendship and family ties with Hugh. Grosvenor is already godfather to both Prince George and Prince Archie, so it seemed natural that William might be asked to return the gesture for little Cosima.

With the princes still estranged, asking one without the other risks deepening the divide, while including both could be seen as an attempt at reconciliation. Grosvenor’s balancing act has been visible before. At his wedding last June at Chester Cathedral, where William served as an usher, Harry and Meghan were initially invited. However, in the end, the Sussexes stayed away. 

Royal watchers were quick to note Prince Harry’s absence from the cathedral wedding, despite his close friendship with Hugh. The decision only fueled speculation that William was the likely choice for godfather. According to reports, Harry and Hugh had agreed he would not attend to avoid any potential awkwardness with William, given the brothers’ strained relationship. Hello! magazine also suggested that their very different public roles and the physical distance between them may have played a part.

Cosmopolitan reported, quoting a friend, “It’s incredibly sad it has come to this. Hugh is one of the very few close friends of William and Harry’s who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both. He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realizes it’s unlikely to happen before the wedding. He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and didn’t want any awkwardness.”

The Duke’s position is unusual. He is already the only mutual friend chosen by both brothers to be a godfather. William named him for Prince George, now 12, while Harry chose him for Archie, six. But their estrangement since Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal life in 2020 has made the choice far from straightforward. The rift between the brothers has continued to get deeper. Harry has not spoken to William since Queen Elizabeth died in 2022. King Charles, too, has been largely distant, meeting Harry only once in February 2024 after revealing his cancer diagnosis.

Despite this, Harry has recently signalled he is open to repairing ties. In a BBC interview following his failed legal battle over taxpayer-funded security in May, he said, “There is no point continuing to fight any more… Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course, they will never forgive lots of things. But I would love a reconciliation… I don’t know how much longer my father has. He won’t speak to me.”