UK awaits royal baby name
Thrilled Britons bet on baby names and congratulations poured in yesterday after Prince Harry and Meghan welcomed the royal family’s first known mixed-race member.
Harry on Monday announced the birth of the couple’s first -- a son who will be seventh in the long line to the British throne.
“This little thing is absolutely to die for,” Harry, 34, said with a giggle, delighted but somewhat overwhelmed.
The world has been buzzing about Britain’s royals ever since Meghan, a 37-year-old TV star with partial African American ancestry, infused the family with a hip new vibe.
Meghan and Harry have been busy ever since changing traditions, bringing the dynasty more into line with modern tastes and that little bit closer to the people.
The couple also announced the birth -- “It’s a BOY!” -- to their 6.4 million followers on Instagram.
Britain has a long and proud tradition of betting on just about everything, and the new arrival had the bookies busy for months.
Some shops stopped taking punts on female names because everyone -- somewhat inexplicably, based on rumours and anonymous tips -- assumed that it would be a girl.
The odds changed radically Monday, with Albert, Oliver, Edward, Henry and Charles all surging to the top.
UK royal names are normally chosen from a relatively restricted pool of those used by past kings and queens.
But Meghan and Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are anything but normal royals.
“Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to choose UNUSUAL name for baby that UNIFIES the US and UK,” The Daily Express wrote, sparking a wild guessing game on Twitter filled with puns and jokes.
For now, British television stations refer to the new arrival as simply “Baby Sussex”.
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