What the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge might call baby number three
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have announced that they are expecting their third child. In a statement, Kensington Palace said the couple, along with the Queen and other members of the Royal Family, are "delighted" with the news.
Unsurprisingly, the announcement has already triggered wonder and predictions of what the newborn's name might be.
Read the press release in full ↓ pic.twitter.com/vDTgGD2aGF
- Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 4, 2017
Betting sites have already released their odds. Topping the list for girls' names are Alice 8/1 and Elizabeth 10/1 and, for a boy, James at 10/1, according to William Hill. The name Alice means 'noble'. Very fitting for a royal.
Royals also tend to go for English names that have a royal history and Alice is no different, Queen Victoria's second daughter was called Alice as was Prince Philip's mother – so Prince Williams' great-grandmother. However, ahead of Princess Charlotte's birth, Alice was rumoured to be a favourite then and the Duke and Duchess chose differently.
Elizabeth would obviously be a tribute to the child's great-grandmother and the reigning monarch, as well as being a middle name of Kate, whereas James has been the name of several kings, and is the name of Kate's brother.
Paddy Power also places Victoria at 8/1, after the second longest-reigning monarch no doubt, then Alexandra at 10/1 – already a middle name of the Queen – as well as Arthur, a middle name of Prince William. The fact that betting sites should be getting involved is no surprise. According to William Hill spokesperson Joe Crilly, the company took over £1 million in royal baby bets when the Duke and Duchess' first-born Prince George arrived.
Sarah Redshaw at BabyCenter told Good Housekeeping, other male names the royal couple might consider are: Albert or Bertie, after Queen Victoria's husband, Alfie or Alfred – a name of both Queen Victoria's son and grandson or Henry, the baby's uncle Harry's real name and that of a very famous royal.
According to Paddy Power, Diana is also on the list at 20/1, in memory of the Duke's mother, the late Princess of Wales. The prediction could potentially be bolstered by it being the year of the twentieth anniversary of her death, and both Princes having spoken about and commemorating her on multiple occasions over the past month. However, it is already Princess Charlotte's middle name, so repetition would be unlikely.
The baby will already have two elder siblings, Prince George Alexander Louis who is four and starts school this week and two-year-old Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.
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