Royal Watch News

Prince Harry informed of royal baby news by email

Dec 4, 2012, 12:02 GMT

Prince Harry

Britain's Prince Harry was informed the Duchess of Cambridge was pregnant via email.

Prince William's younger brother received an electronic brief about the exciting development for the royal family - which means Harry will no longer be third in line to the throne - after he proved unreachable by phone yesterday (03.12.12) while stationed on military duty in Afghanistan.

William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and his father Prince Charles were only informed via hurried telephone calls when Catherine - formerly known as Kate Middleton before her marriage - was rushed to hospital yesterday with acute morning sickness, according to the BBC's royal correspondent.

Meanwhile, bookmakers have begun offering odds on potential names for the royal baby and are predicting a classic name in keeping with royal tradition, and William and Harry's late mother Diana's name is also proving a popular suggestion.

Betting agency William Hill's early favourites are Frances and John at 9/1, with Charles, George and Victoria 10/1, then Anne, Diana, Philip, Richard and Spencer at 12/1 and finally Henry, Mary and Sarah at 14/1.

Feilim Mac An Iomaire, a spokesperson for Irish bookmakers Paddy Power, said: 'We're pretty confident they're going to stay with a traditional name from within the family. We think that given, let's face it, they're not Lady Gaga but neither are they the generation of royals that went before them, they might not go too far off the wall.'

Odds are also being offered on the baby's sex, time of birth, weight and hair colour.