Royal baby: ‘Princess Charlotte’ new favourite

Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and their newborn baby princess, left St. Mary's Hospital's exclusive Lindo Wing, London, yesterday. Pic: AP Photo/Alastair Grant

A late surge in bets for the name has seen it surge into first place at 3/1 with Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, and level with Alice, the previous favourite, at the same odds with Coral.

Olivia has also made inroads in the betting market and is now being offered at around 4/1 or 5/1, while Victoria and Elizabeth remain popular.

Ladbrokes said that if one of the fancied names is chosen, on top of many people winnning by betting on a princess rather than a price, “the payout for the betting industry will be bumped up to a million pounds”.

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge holds her newborn baby princess. Pic: AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

The latest addition to the Royal Family was introduced to the world yesterday, and there is speculation that the name of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s baby daughter could be announced by her parents today.

William and Kate may tell the world what they will call their second child who was born yesterday and introduced to the world at a photocall outside hospital.

The Cambridges announced the name of their son George the day after the couple left hospital in July 2013, so may do the same for their daughter.

The Duke and Duchess appeared overjoyed when they left hospital on Saturday with their baby princess who was born at 8.34am, weighing 8lbs 3oz.

Despite screams from royal fans and the clicks of dozens of camera shutters the infant did not stir and slept serenely on, wrapped in a shawl and wearing a bonnet.

Proud father William spoke of his joy following the birth earlier that day, telling the waiting press he was “very happy”.

He had been at his wife’s side in the delivery room at the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.

The Duke’s father the Prince of Wales - who said he wanted his second grandchild to be a girl - and Duchess of Cornwall were left “absolutely delighted” by the news, Clarence House has said.

William’s uncle Earl Spencer also reacted with joy to the announcement, saying: “It’s wonderful news - we are all thrilled for all four of them.”

The Queen, who attended a military event at Richmond Castle, in North Yorkshire, was dressed appropriately in pink on the day her fifth great-grandchild, who was overdue, was born.

Prince George, now 21 months old, was picked up by his father from the family’s Kensington Palace apartment and taken to the private maternity unit to meet his baby sister.

It was the first time he had been seen at a public event in the UK since he left hospital after his birth, but after waving to crowds when he first arrived he left privately by a rear entrance.

Ladbrokes Spokeswoman Jessica Bridge said: “We’ve never known a day of royal speculation like it. Charlotte is the new favourite, but Olivia is the name on the nation’s lips.”

Charlotte has a long royal pedigree. It is the feminine of Charles, the name of her grandfather the Prince of Wales, and was the name of George III’s queen, portrayed by Helen Mirren in the 1994 film The Madness Of King George.

Likewise Alice was the name of the Duke of Edinburgh’s mother and also a daughter of Queen Victoria.

Coral’s John Hill said: “The betting suggests the most likely names are Alice and Charlotte, however, we’ve seen a huge gamble today for Olivia who was as big as 40-1 before the baby was born but is now as short as 4-1.”

Bookies have estimated they already face a payout of more than £500,000 after heavy backing for a female royal. Ladbrokes said its payouts included £15,000 to a man in Manchester having his first royal bet.

A Paddy Power spokesman said: “The punters are back caught in Charlotte’s web, but it could still be Alice in Wonderland.”

The Cambridges’ daughter, who is fourth in line to the throne and will be affectionately known as a spare to the heir, looked very similar to her great-grandmother the Queen when she was a newborn.

The birth was proclaimed on Twitter, by the age-old tradition of a bulletin displayed in Buckingham Palace’s forecourt and by a town crier who entertained the crowds who had gathered outside St Mary’s Hospital.

Palace footmen George Oates, 26, from North Yorkshire, and Simon Garnett, 30, from Cumbria were given the job of placing the proclamation on an ornate gold easel which was sited close to the palace railings.

Very quickly a long queue formed as people waited patiently to get a glimpse of the brief bulletin signed by the senior medical team, led by consultant obstetrician Guy Thorpe-Beeston, surgeon-gynaecologist to the household, who delivered the royal baby.

There were also words of congratulations from all the political party leaders who broke briefly from campaigning for the General Election.

Gun salutes will be fired in Hyde Park and at the Tower of London on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon to mark the birth.

The Cambridges are expected to remain at their Kensington Palace apartment for another day before they travel to their country retreat Anmer Hall in Norfolk.

While in London they are likely to be visited by proud grandparents Michael and Carole Middleton and possibly members of the Royal Family.