What Will Queen Say in Christmas Speech?

Queen Elizabeth II will deliver her traditional address to the nation on Christmas Day, and online bookmakers like William Hill are offering some pretty good odds on which topics her speech will focus on.

What Odds a Royal Baby?

The Queen is 1/10 to mention the recent royal wedding between William and Kate, but more tempting are the 25/1 odds on her announcing that the royal couple are expecting a baby in 2012. They were married in April, so it would be reasonable to assume an announcement could be coming soon.

Another hot topic that could be in for a mention are the London 2012 Olympic Games, also at 1/10 (with 11/2 for her not to mention it. "Afghanistan" is paying 1/6, "Australia," 8/11, "Libya," 2/1, the struggling euro, 5/1, and rugby star Mike Tindall (the husband of the Queen's eldest granddaughter Zara), 33/1.

Hill is offering 11/10 odds that the message will rate over nine million viewers this year.

More Specials

Another topic dominating headlines this month is the UK's refusal to back an European Union treaty ensuring the future of the euro zone. William Hill Sportsbook is offering 1/9 on Prime Minister David Cameron maintaining his opposition, and 5/1 on a reversal.

And on the question of whether Greece will still be using the euro by the end of 2012, the online sportsbook is offering 8/13 on the country to continue using the currency, and 6/5 on it returning to its old currency - the drachma.