Could Kate's second baby be named after Diana, Princess of Wales? Royal author says couple are planning Elizabeth Diana Windsor if they have daughter

  • Prince William and Kate 'spent hours discussing what to call new child'
  • Royal biographer Andrew Morton claims they have decided girl's name
  • Coral's favourites are Elizabeth (10/1), James (11/1) and Victoria (12/1)

Three weeks after it was revealed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a second child, some punters are placing sums of at least £1,000 on its name.

And with speculation rife as to what Prince William and Kate will call their new child, one of the most authoritative of royal authors claimed today that he is convinced they will name it after Diana.

Andrew Morton - who wrote a biography of the Princess of Wales which revealed the truth behind her strained royal relationships - said a daughter would be given the name Elizabeth Diana Windsor.

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Decision: Prince William and Kate have spent hours discussing what to call their new child. They are pictured here in July 2013 with Prince George hours after his birth at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London

Decision: Prince William and Kate have spent hours discussing what to call their new child. They are pictured here in July 2013 with Prince George hours after his birth at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London

Parents: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales with baby Prince William in June 1982

Parents: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales with baby Prince William in June 1982

 

Mr Morton told The Sun on Sunday reporter Ben Griffiths: ‘Close friends to William and Kate have told me that if it is a girl they want to name the baby after Diana.

‘They discussed girls' names before George was born and now they’re hoping the next one is a girl so they can carry out their wish to honour William’s mother. They’re not too thrilled at the thought it will be shortened to Princess Di. But it won’t change their minds.’

Mr Morton added that the couple had to consider that many royals would be furious if the baby was christened Diana Elizabeth, due to the ‘hostility’ between Diana and the royal family.

In November 2010, William famously gave Kate the engagement ring that once belonged to Diana, saying it was ‘my way of making sure my mother didn't miss out on today and the excitement’.

Following Mr Morton's claims today, Elizabeth became 10/1 favourite for the name with MailOnline's betting partner Coral. James is second at 11/1, Victoria third at 12/1 and Alexandra fourth at 14/1.

Sharing her name: The Queen attends Crathie Kirk in Aberdeenshire for a Sunday church service today. Following Mr Morton's claims today, Elizabeth became 10/1 favourite for the name with bookmakers Coral

Sharing her name: The Queen attends Crathie Kirk in Aberdeenshire for a Sunday church service today. Following Mr Morton's claims today, Elizabeth became 10/1 favourite for the name with bookmakers Coral

Royal biographer: Andrew Morton wrote international bestseller Diana: Her True Story in 1992

Royal biographer: Andrew Morton wrote international bestseller Diana: Her True Story in 1992

Kate’s latest pregnancy was announced on September 8, as it was revealed she was suffering from very acute morning sickness and being treated by doctors at Kensington Palace.

'They discussed girls' names before George was born and now they’re hoping the next one is a girl so they can carry out their wish to honour William's mother'

Andrew Morton, royal biographer

The couple are choosing to base their family in Norfolk, but the new baby will be delivered at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, central London, where Prince George was born in July 2013.

Mr Morton, 60, wrote international bestseller Diana: Her True Story in 1992 and a revised edition after her death based on taped responses from Diana to his written questions.

Those recordings, about seven hours of taped responses, were secretly made in Kensington Palace in 1991 during a series of interviews conducted through an intermediary.

In the tapes, the princess talks openly about her life before marrying Prince Charles, her long battle with bulimia, her suicide attempts, the heartache over her husband's long affair with Camilla Parker Bowles and her strained relationships with other members of the Royal family.

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