One bookmaker is facing a potential five-figure payout if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge name their second baby Alice. Punters have staked a significant amount on the name of the royal baby.

The odds on heavily pregnant Kate and William calling their baby Alice have tumbled with bookmaker William Hill from 14-1 to 4-1 after the bets were made last week.

William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said: "Alice is the new favourite and we have seen a significant number of bets, particularly from the Tunbridge area - you have to think there is good reason for the gamble."

If the wagers prove correct the bookmakers face losing a five-figure sum.

After Alice the next fancied moniker among punters is the Queen's name Elizabeth at odds of 9-2 followed by Charlotte 11-2, Victoria 12-1, Alexandra 14-1, Diana 16- 1, and the boys names Arthur, Henry and James all at 20-1.

Since the mid 19th century a number of royal women have been called Alice, with Queen Victoria calling her second daughter Princess Alice and the wife of the late Duke of Gloucester - the Queen's uncle - also had the same name.

Paddy Power have also made Alice their favourite, jointly with Charlotte, at odds of 9-2 followed by Elizabeth 5-1, Victoria 10-1, James, Arthur and Alexandra all at 12-1 and Philip 14-1.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with young people on the top deck of the XLP Mobile recording Studio on the Hazel Grove Estate, Sydenham, London, Friday March 27, 2015

Kate held her last public engagements on Friday and will not be seen again officially until she leaves the Lindo Wing, the private maternity wing of London's St Mary's Hospital, with her second child.

The baby is due at the end of April and William said, as they visited a number of charitable organisations on Friday, that he could not wait for the latest addition to his family to be born.

William Hill are accepting wagers on the date the baby will be born with odds suggesting it could be around April 21.

The firm's spokesman said: "The Duchess is now on maternity leave and George could have a brother/sister within a month."

The dates of April 19-22 have odds of 14-1, with April 15-18 and April 23-24 (16-1) and the rest of the month with odds from 20-1 to 25-1.

Odds on the gender of the baby are evens for a boy and 8-11 for a girl.