Is Kate Middleton Pregnant? Odds Duchess Will Announce Baby No. 4 In 2020 Examined

Much has been made about the fact that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have decided to leave life as members of the royal family behind, but there could potentially be some good news on the horizon when it comes to the royals—and they may be able to thank Kate Middleton for it.

According to bookmakers Ladbrokes, the Duchess of Cambridge is odds on at 8/11 to announce that she and Prince William will be expanding their family with a fourth child before the end of 2020.

“All eyes might be on Harry and Meghan right now but the Duchess of Cambridge could soon bring attention back to her with another royal baby announcement seemingly imminent,” Alex Apati from the betting agency told Express UK.

The change in betting odds came as Middleton notably skipped out on wearing her sapphire and diamond engagement ring during an official visit to Evelina Children’s Hospital. Eagle-eyed fans began wondering if the ring was off because her fingers were swollen due to pregnancy, but Kensington Palace quickly worked to dispel the rumors by confirming the ring was removed due to potential hygiene hazards.

The rumors also came after Middleton herself addressed the possibility of having a fourth child, indicating that her husband actually didn’t want to expand the family further, and was good stopping at the three children they had.

During a visit with crowds at Khidmat Centre in Bradford, Yorkshire, earlier in January, the Duchess told a fan that she didn’t think her husband wanted to continue expanding their family.

In addition, it has been reported that Middleton herself may not want to have another child due to the changed made in the Succession Act of 2013. The rule requires only the first six heirs for the throne to seek permission from a reigning monarch for marriage. The current lineage has their children as third, fourth and fifth in line for the throne. Depending on who was ruling at the time or how many children Prince George has, a fourth child could be moved down the line of succession and be subjected to a different set of rules from its siblings as a result.