The Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, has reportedly told friends that she is planning for a big family. The 33-year-old royal, who recently announced that she is pregnant with her second baby, wants "at least" three children, according to The Telegraph. Kate herself has two younger siblings Pippa, 31, and James, 27, and it is thought that the Duchess wants to give her firstborn Prince George and her second child the same sort of family environment she grew up in.
© Photo: Getty ImagesKate is the eldest of three children
Her husband Prince William, meanwhile, is believed to have said in the past that he would be happy with two children. By the time Kate's baby is born in April or May, George will be almost two years older than his sibling – roughly the same age gap between Kate and Pippa. Bookies are already taking bets on whether the Queen's granddaughter-in-law will have a girl or a boy, with the majority placing bets on a princess. In terms of the royal baby's name, William and Kate showed with George – whose middle names are Alexander and Louis – that they favour traditional choices, in keeping with the reigning family's history. The second royal tot will most likely have three or four names, as his father was christened William Arthur Philip Louis while the Duke's younger brother Prince Harry is Henry Charles Albert David.
© Photo: Getty ImagesKate has been suffering from severe morning sickness as she did with her first pregnancy
If William and Kate have a girl born around the Queen's April birthday, they may well name her Elizabeth in tribute to the 88-year-old monarch. Diana would also be an obvious choice, in honour of William's beloved mother, the late Princess Diana, while Alexandra – one of the Queen's middle names – was a popular bet during Kate's first pregnancy.
Prince Harry jokes he 'can't wait to see William suffer'When it comes to boys names, Charles, Philip and Thomas are likely to be good bets. On the day that her pregnancy was announced, Kate was forced to pull out of an engagement at Oxford University and stay home after falling ill from severe morning sickness. William is reported to have said that his wife had been suffering from the condition for about a week, but that they were both "thrilled" with the news.
