So, Kate, is it going to be Charlotte or Alice?
WHAT’S in a name? Well when it comes to Britain’s royal family at least, it means a lot of money for the bookies.
On the day Kate and William’s new baby daughter was born, almost 10,000 individual wagers were placed in the UK alone – with Charlotte and Alice the clear favourites.
A spokesman for Ladbrokes said the betting markets had been in ‘total mayhem’ since Saturday but listed both names as 3/1 joint favourites, with Victoria (5/1) and Elizabeth (6/1) in hot pursuit. Kate and William could choose Charlotte – the feminine form of Charles – in honour of the baby’s grandfather, the Prince of Wales. Charlotte is also the middle name of Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton.
Intriguingly, Olivia has been the biggest mover since the baby arrived, and is now chalked up at just 7/1, having been just 50/1 first thing on Saturday morning. Alexandra (8/1) and Diana (10/1) have also been popular choices with punters.
Outsiders i nclude Florence 33/1, Rose 33/1 and Maude at 100/1. Ladbrokes’ Jessica Bridge said: ‘Bookies all over the UK are hoping and praying for any name other than Alice, Charlotte, Victoria, Elizabeth, Olivia, Alexandra or Diana.’
Coral also reported yesterday that i ts odds on Olivia had plunged from 66/1 to just 4/1.
‘The gamble on Charlotte is showing no signs of slowing down and although Alice will be the worst result for us, Charlotte will also prove very costly following the amount of bets we’ve taken on it,’ said a spokesman. ‘We’ve already paid out a substantial six-figure sum on the royal baby being a girl, so we have our fingers crossed that Will and Kate opt for a name outside the top three in the betting.’
Prince William is expected to discuss the name of his daughter with Queen Elizabeth today. There is no protocol which says the monarch should be consulted about the name of a royal baby.
‘Total mayhem’ on betting markets