With the announcement from Kensington Palace that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expecting their first child in the spring, oddsmakers have already started putting out a myriad of prop bets on the couple’s newest addition.
The rumors that the Duchess of Sussex was pregnant began in the summer, and reached a fever pitch last weekend at the wedding of another royal family member, Princess Eugenie. Markle was seen in a loose fitting outfit, presumably to hide the early signs of her pregnancy.
It was there that the couple, who were married in May, informed Queen Elizabeth, as well as Prince Charles and Harry’s brother, Prince William.
“The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted for the couple and were able to congratulate them on Friday at the wedding in person,” a statement read. “Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public.”
It was no secret the couple was eager to start a family, especially considering Markle is 37. Last year Harry made it quite clear what the goal was for the two.
“One step at a time,” Harry said, “and hopefully we’ll start a family in the near future.”
Name Games
Several UK sportsbooks have started to put up odds on the baby’s sex and name. The odds are -115 for either a boy or girl at Bovada. Ladbrokes has a payoff of -110 for either sex.
As far as a name, Betfair spokeswoman Katie Baylis told the UK’s Express newspaper that there are a variety of choices.
“At this stage Diana, Arthur and Alice, which were favorites at different stages for Kate and William’s babies, are the 12/1 front runners,” Baylis said. “However, with months until the baby is born, those odds will shorten, change and other names will come to the forefront.”
Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes told the Express that the couple might want a less traditional name.
“With Meghan’s USA roots it would be remiss of bookmakers to rule out an American moniker featuring somewhere,” Bridge said.
Diana would pay tribute to Harry’s late mother, who he was very close to. Since the child would be seventh in line for the throne, and unlikely to be Queen, selecting that name is a possibility over more traditional, regal names.
Other Fun Baby Bets
Creativity is key when it comes to prop bets and the sportsbooks have a bevy of them. Ladbrokes is offering time of the birth and the day it occurs. All of the days are at 5/1. The time, however, is midnight to 11:59 a.m. as the favorite at even money. The next time is 6 pm to 11:59 pm at 2/1, with noon to 5:59 p.m. at 5/2.
Bovada has a series of prop bets, including what the color hair the royal couple’s first child will have. Black is the favorite at +125, followed by brown at +150. Blonde, which would be nearly impossible, is a longshot at +2500. But red? Odds on a beautiful ginger baby are paying at +300.
Where the baby is born is another wager. The United Kingdom is the top pick at -500, while Markle going to the US is at +300. (Anywhere else is +700.)
Perhaps the most unusual of the prop bets is whether Markle will give birth to twins. The no is the overwhelming favorite at -2500, while the yes is at +1500.
