Royal wedding has punters all a flutter

AS royal-watchers and wedding fans speculate over details of the royal wedding, bookies are giving people the chance to place a punt on one of the big questions — how long Kate Middleton will make her groom wait?

William Hill is giving away £50,000 (€56,700) worth of free bets on how long “Waity Katie” — as she was once dubbed — will make Prince William wait at the altar.

The bookmaker, which is rebranding itself for the first time in its 50-year history to “William and Kate”, is giving away 20 free £1 bets in each of its 2,300 shops.

Customers will be able to use them to bet on how early or late Ms Middleton will be for her wedding on Friday.

The first £50,000 free bets are on the day only and there will be 20 in each shop on a first-come, first-served basis.

Rupert Adams, from William Hill, said they expect to take more than £1 million (€1.13m) on various bets — with wagers coming in from 86 countries already.

“Interest in the royal wedding betting has been nothing short of incredible,” he said.

“We have already taken bets from customers in 86 different countries.”

And it will not just be royalists putting on a bet on the day, according to Mr Adams.

“On the one hand royalists who have strong views will place a bet, such as the Prince of Wales choosing Welsh lamb for dinner, they’ll go to Bognor Butlins on holiday, the Queen’s hat will be purple.

“But we think we will be especially busy with people who have no real interest but know that they will have to watch it because of a spouse, partner ... mother-in-law, and by having a bet they will at least have an interest in what takes place.”