Bookies face a huge payout if the royal baby is named Charlotte, Alice or Diana as bookies estimate that a million pounds has now been wagered on the name of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s new baby daughter.

As 21-gun salute was fired in Wellington today for the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s baby girl, last minute burst of bets on Charlotte as the most likely name for the new princess, leaving bookies potentially facing a seven-figure payout to punters.

In the last odds offered by SkyBet, Charlotte stood at 5/2, with Alice at 9/4, and Victoria at 13/2 while with Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, Charlotte has now been placed top of the list at 3/1.

Ladbrokes spokesperson Jessica Bridge said that bookies all over the UK are hoping and praying for any name other than Alice, Charlotte, Victoria, Elizabeth, Olivia, Alexandra or Diana.