LONDON — The news of another royal heir on the way is sparking reactions across the spectrum.
And the pregnancy of the Duchess of Cambridge, who is married to Prince William, is providing a boost to one of Britain’s national pastimes — finding new ways to wager money. Bookmakers are now taking bets on the gender of Kate’s child, what the infant will be named and the color of his/her hair.
Joe Crilly, a spokesman for the William Hill bookmaker, said a high level of betting interest is expected, with favored names including Diana, Philip, Elizabeth and Sarah.
Across the pond, ABC News even offered a poll, asking people to rate likely baby names.
Baby thoughts have been found in some less-than-fully-credible supermarket tabloids for months. They’ve been trumpeting “stories” about Kate’s pregnancies for months, without any apparent basis in fact.
But that didn’t keep the public from gobbling them up — the British royals, with their haughty glamour and slightly tragic air, have long captivated Americans.
“The whole wide world is excited,” said Shao Hua Huang, a surgical nurse who practices in New York and Connecticut.
