Since news broke that Prince William and wife Kate are expecting, the British press has gone baby-crazy and bookmakers have also ramped up their markets hoping to entice all of those royal watchers into having a bet.
Kate’s early incarceration in the King Edward VII Hospital in London with severe morning sickness has sparked speculation that royal twins may be hatched next year. Severe morning sickness can be a symptom of multiple births and you can back that happy outcome at 10/1 with Stan James, though most will simply be betting on the gender of the third heir to the British throne. Under new legislation, it no longer matters what the sex of a child is in terms of succession and you can have Evens about the royal first-born being either a boy or a girl with a variety of bookmakers.
Once you’ve made your choice in that matter you then, of course, have to work out a likely name. The Windsors are traditionalists so you aren’t going to get a Princess Tulisa or Britney, or a Prince Kevin or Joshua. George is a popular choice at present (12/1 with Betfred, BetVictor and Coral) as is Victoria (12/1 with Betfred, Ladbrokes and Stan James). It’s a general 16/1 that a girl is named after great-granny Elizabeth.
You can also try and guess the weight of Kate’s baby. Now William is quite a strapping chap and Kate is fairly slight but you can guarantee the Duchess Of Cambridge will be monitored closely to ensure she gets all the correct nourishment so it’s likely first-born will emerge robust. It’s 5/2 with Coral, Paddy Power and sportingbet that baby checks in between 7lb and 7lb 15oz while Coral, Paddy Power and William Hill offer 7/2 that the royal baby weighs between 6lb and 6lb 15oz. How about a gamble on the day of delivery? Betfred, Coral and William Hill offer 6/1 against any named day so it’s shame on Stan James and Ladbrokes who go 5/1 and 11/2 respectively for any of the seven alternatives. For some reason, bet365 seem to think a weekend arrival is less likely than a day in the working week – do gynaecologists not work on Saturdays or Sundays?
