The smart money’s on Alice or Arthur

BOOKMAKERS have picked Alice as the favourite for the new Royal baby’s name, with Arthur the most popular choice for a boy.

Coral opened betting on what the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will call their third child, and gave Alice odds of 7-1.

Arthur and Victoria are 10-1 joint second favourites, ahead of Alexandra and Albert, both 12-1.

Coral spokesman David Stevens said: “Late last month we had to cut the odds on the Royal couple announcing this news to 1-2 from 3-1, and that gamble has proved to be spot on. It’s cost us a few quid but we’ll be paying out with a smile after this good news.”

Paddy Power also has Alice as the favourite at 8-1, with Arthur at 10-1. William Hill has Alice as the 8-1 favourite, with Elizabeth and James both at 10-1. The Duke and Duchess already have Prince George Alexander Louis and Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

Bookmakers have set the chance that the Duchess has twins at 4-1.

In 2015, Alice was also a favourite name for the Duchess’s second child until the final days of her pregnancy.

Then, Charlotte became the odds-on favourite with bookmakers estimated to have paid out around £1million.

In 2013, George took the lead in the betting from James at the last minute. Names including Donald, Boris and Camilla are among the wild cards.

It is cheering that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting her third child. The news doesn’t much affect the monarchy. At birth, the little girl or boy will be fifth in line to the throne, but in due course would come after any children Prince George or Princess Charlotte have. Nor does the choice of name much matter. We might enjoy an informal sweepstake on whether it is Alice or Albert. It would be silly to discount Arthur as a name just because no Arthur has lived to accede to the throne – Queen Victoria’s son Arthur lived to the age of 91. In any case, monarchs can choose new names, as the Queen’s father, Albert, did as George VI. But the true reason to be cheered is that the next royal baby is good for little George and Charlotte, is good for their parents and is good in his or herself. A new child is simply good news.