Royal Family to welcome new member this month
LONDON — Royal fans are ready to welcome Prince William and Kate’s second child — a younger brother or sister to Prince George, whose birth two years ago whipped up a worldwide media frenzy.
As in 2013, the royals are keeping everyone guessing by disclosing virtually nothing about the baby — including the due date and gender.
If the bookies are to be believed, the baby will be a princess and she will be called Alice. Here’s what we know — and don’t know — ahead of the second royal baby’s birth, expected in the coming days:
Mystery birth date
Clarence House, the royal residence in London, announced on Sept. 8 that Kate was pregnant, but gave no clues about the due date other than to say it would be this month. On a recent public visit, Kate reportedly told a charity worker that she is due mid-to-late April.
The baby could share a birthday with her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who was born on April 21. The newborn’s birthday could also coincide with William and Kate’s fourth anniversary, on April 19.
Princess Alice?
Though there has been no confirmation of the baby’s gender, bookies and the British media seem confident it will be a girl.
As for what the baby will be called, many are betting on one quaint-sounding name: Alice.
The name is by far the favorite among Britain’s bookmakers, with William Hill putting odds at 2-1 after a number of unusually large bets came in for it.
Heir or spare?
When George was born in 2013, he jumped the line of succession ahead of uncle Prince Harry to become the third in line to the throne — after Charles, his granddad, and his father William.
George’s sibling will become the fourth in line, bumping Harry down to fifth place.
