They only announced they were expecting in September, but speculation is already mounting as to what Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank will call their first child.
Their new arrival is due in early 2021, and three names are currently frontrunners when it comes to betting odds.
UK bookmaker BetVictor predicts the couple, who married in October 2018, will rely on family monikers – calling their little one Alice after Prince Philip’s late mother, or Henry, which is Prince Harry’s real name.
Arthur is also proving to be a favourite when it comes to boys’ names – with all three of the options placed at 9/1 odds.
They only announced they were expecting in September, but speculation is already mounting as to what Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank (pictured) will call their first child
UK bookmaker BetVictor predicts the couple, who married in October 2018, will rely on family monikers – calling their little one Alice after Prince Philip’s late mother, or Henry, which is Prince Harry’s (pictured) real name
Royals are known to favour traditional names so it is perhaps of no surprise bookies think Eugenie might name their child after a family member.
Arthur is common within the royal family, with it being a middle name of Prince William, Prince Charles and Prince Louis. The Duchess of Cambridge’s sister Pippa Middleton also called her first child Arthur.
Meanwhile, royal experts have previously commented on the close friendship shared between Prince Harry, 36, and his cousin Princess Eugenie, 30.
Another namesake contender, Princess Alice of Battenberg and Greece was the mother of Princess Eugenie’s grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh. A devout Christian, who died in London in 1969, she became a nun and founded a convent.
The deeply religious woman was formally recognised by the State of Israel for her bravery in harbouring a Jewish mother and some of her children from the Nazis in her palace in Athens during World War Two.
Another namesake contender, Princess Alice of Battenberg and Greece was the mother of Princess Eugenie’s grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh (pictured together in 1960)
Other popular choices for Princess Eugenie’s baby’s name so far are Grace, Victoria, Alexandra, Diana and Isabella. While favourite boy names are Thomas, Godfrey, George and Charles.
Bookies said that while Eugenie was likely to go for traditional names, the chances of her and Jack opting for a left-field name for their child were still high.
Betting odds have slightly changed since Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank first announced the pregnancy.
Arthur, at 4/1 odds, and Victoria, at 5/1, were bookmaker Coral’s early favourites.
‘We think it’ll be a very traditional royal name for Eugenie and Jack’s first baby and make Arthur the favourite, with Victoria the narrow second favourite and top girls name in the betting,’ said Coral’s Harry Aitkenhead.
In September, it was reported that the Queen’s granddaughter won’t accept a royal title for her baby if offered by Her Majesty because it is a ‘curse’ and she wants her child to have an ‘ordinary life’.
A family friend of the couple revealed how titles ‘don’t matter’ to the pair, who will raise the child at their home of Kensington Palace, and said they just want ‘a happy healthy child.’
Speaking to Vanity Fair’s Katie Nicholl, the source revealed: ‘Eugenie knows that a title can be a curse as well as a blessing and she and Jack want their child to live an ordinary life and eventually work to earn a living.’
According to the regulations of the House of Windsor, Eugenie’s baby will not automatically be entitled to the HRH styling, which only extends to grandchildren of the monarch.
Jack, who is European brand manager for Casamigos Tequila co-founded by George Clooney, does not have a title.
Eugenie and Jack’s child will be 11th in the order of succession, which means the Queen’s youngest son Prince Edward will slip down a place into 12th place.