As the Duchess of Cambridge goes into labour is this what the couple are planning to call the royal baby?

News has broken this morning that the Duchess of Cambridge is in labour.

The Duchess has been admitted to St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, in the “early stages of labour”.

A tweet from the Kensington Palace Twitter account stated: “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London earlier this morning in the early stages of labour.

“The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge.”

And while the world is now officially on royal baby watch speculation is turning to both the gender of the baby and the baby name the Duke and Prince William might pick.

Since announcing the couple’s third pregnancy in September, a number of different monikers have been predicted.

Early frontrunners were Alice or Arthur after a flurry of bets at the bookies.

But news about the impending birth has sparked renewed speculation about the name the couple might choose.

Though Coral had placed Elizabeth as the hot favourite bookies have been surprised by bets being placed on the name Alice, with odds slashed from 10/1 to just 7/1.

And it could be a likely choice considering The Duke of Edinburgh’s mother was Princess Alice of Battenberg.

Elizabeth has already been used for one of Princess Charlotte‘s middle names.

But the monarch is held in such esteem by her family that it is not inconceivable it could be used for a first name if the Cambridges have another girl.

Joint second favourites are Arthur and Victoria at 10/1, ahead of Alexandra and Albert, both coming in at 12/1.

If the baby is a girl Alice and Victoria are topping the list of favourites at Paddy Power at 10/1, while Arthur and Henry are predicted to be the choice if the baby turns out to be a boy.

Bookies William Hill also place Alice as the favourite at 8/1 but naming the baby Elizabeth after William’s grandmother is a close second at 10/1.

Their favourite male name was James at 10/1 followed by Arthur and Philip at 12/1.

One of Charles’s middle names, Arthur is also one of William’s middle names and was a middle name of the Queen’s father, George VI.

Albert, Frederick, James are also seen as contenders if the baby is a boy.

By choosing Albert or Bertie for a boy, William and Kate would be honouring Queen Elizabeth II’s father, George VI, who was actually Albert Frederick Arthur George but always known to his family as Bertie.

A Prince Freddie of Cambridge would have a historical link to the 1st Duke of Cambridge.

Prince Adolphus Frederick lived from 1774 to 1850 and was a son of George III.

While James could be chosen to signify Kate’s affection for her brother, the baby’s uncle, James Middleton.

Commenting on the royal baby name Katie Baylis, Betfair Spokesperson, said: “We have Alice and Victoria as 10/1 favourites if the child is a girl and Arthur and Henry also at 10/1 as favourites for a boy.”

“Alice could be one to watch out for if the child is a girl, as when Kate was pregnant with Charlotte, Alice was heavily backed by punters and went from 50/1 into the 5/2 favourite at one stage.”

“As the world marks 20 years since the death of the Princess of Wales, Diana is at 20/1, while Elizabeth and Phillip are both at 16/1 and Charles 33/1.”

“Carole, the name of Kate’s mother is a 100/1 outsider, as is that of Camilla.”

More recently another moniker has seen its odds slashed. The top pick if the baby is a boy is a surprise new entry – Philip – which has dipped from 25/1 to 16/1 in recent weeks.

While the name Mary for a girl is also seen as a favourite.

According to PA Mary is one of the Queen’s middle names and it was also her grandmother’s name.

Other potential baby girl names, according to PA, include Amelia, the name of one of George III’s daughters.

The name was the most popular girls’ name in England and Wales for five years from 2011, until it was knocked off the top spot by Olivia in 2016.

Isabella could also be a contender.

The name is a variation of Isabel, itself a variation of Elizabeth, meaning “devoted to God” in Hebrew.

For boys, the royal couple could choose William as a middle name, but also perhaps Michael as a middle name out of respect for Kate’s father.

Kate’s grandfather on her paternal side was called Peter, while on her maternal side, her grandfather was Ronald.

Thomas also appears several times in Kate’s family tree as does Francis.

Though it is not yet known whether the loved-up couple are having a boy or a girl, earlier this month Prince William may have dropped a hint about the gender of his third child.

After cheering on his football team Aston Villa, he hinted that he and Kate could be expecting a boy.

Speaking to fans after Jack Grealish scored a late winner for Villa, William joked that he wanted to name his new baby after the player.

“I’m going to insist the baby is called Jack,” he told fans before adding “… or Jackie” after a brief pause.

It isn’t the first time the couple could have given away details about the royal baby. Earlier in her pregnancy William was said to have given away the duchess’ due date while speaking to midwives.

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