Kate Middleton Baby Due Date Nears, Alexandra the Most Betted-on Name

By Jane White
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Kate Middleton's last public appearance on June 15.

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, is due to give birth later this month at the private Lindo wing at St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington. This is the same hospital where Prince William was born 31 years ago.

The official due date is Saturday July 13, the Duchess is planning to go through natural labour when she gives birth to the royal baby, and the royal couple say they do not know the gender of the baby.

Prince William, 31, and Kate Middleton, 31, are ready to welcome their first child anytime soon. As the expected due date nears, British bookies are taking bets on everything, from the baby's gender, to its hair color and weight.

The royal baby's name is, no doubt, the first thing the public will want to know.

Royals choose "dynastic names, names with a sense of history," said CNN royal contributor Victoria Arbiter. These traditional names provide the "elements of continuity that the survival of the monarchy depends on."

Traditional names head the list, led by Alexandra and followed by Charlotte, Elizabeth, Diana and Victoria when it comes to girls' names, and George, James and Louis for boys.

Alexandra is Queen Elizabeth II's middle name, Charlotte is the middle name of Kate's sister Pippa and the name of King George III's wife, while Victoria would honor Britain's longest-serving monarch.

As for a boy, George is a popular guess: there have been six King Georges reigning over England including the present Queen's late father who was born Albert but chose to be named King George after his coronation. James has strong royal ties, with two English Kings and six Scottish Kings named James.

The royal baby will be the Queen's third great-grandchild and, whether the baby is a boy or a girl, will be in line to become the heir to the throne.

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