/ 10 January 2006

Svend, Knud, Valdemar or Christian

Bets are on for what name the newborn son of Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik will be given at his christening on January 21, reports said on Tuesday.

The boy was born October 15 to Frederik and his Australian-born wife, Crown Princess Mary.

Neither the royal couple nor the palace have disclosed the name of their son, but in line with tradition it is believed the newborn prince will be named Christian.

A 100 kroner ($16,20) bet on Christian offers a return of 102 kroner ($16,50), online bookmakers Nordic Bet said.

The little prince will likely have four names so punters can also hope to cash in on names like Svend, Knud or Valdemar that offer odds of 50, 15 or 2 to 1.

Betting opportunities include whether the prince will cry during the christening ceremony (odds of 1,65 to 1) or be quiet (2 to 1), the free newspaper Metro Xpress said.

The ceremony will be held in Christiansborg Palace Church in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.

Frederik met Mary Donaldson (33) at the Olympics in Sydney in 2000 and they married four years later. — Sapa-DPA