All bets are on for royal wedding wagers

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LONDON — British bookmakers are having a field day taking bets on every aspect of the royal wedding, from the first dance to the Queen's hat -- and Prince Philip nodding off during the ceremony.

Betting shops, an institution on every British high street, regularly offer "specials" on politics and reality television programmes alongside the usual sporting staples of football and horse racing.

And major chains wasted no time offering a vast range of odds on the wedding once Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement in November.

"If it's not exciting enough for viewers at home, we're giving them the chance of an additional thrill on the big day," Ladbrokes betting chain spokesman Alex Donohue told AFP.

"We're definitely reaching new customers. Lots of women are coming this time to bet on the colour of the Queen's hat and who is going to be there. There are many men as well who usually don't bet."

Betting on the Queen's hat is a regular Ascot races punt. Yellow is the 5-4 favourite for the wedding. Elsewhere in the headwear stakes, punters reckon Middleton will wear a traditional tiara.

But it's not just the royals being bet on.

Purple is the 4-1 favourite colour for pop star guest Victoria Beckham's dress.

"So far the most popular bet is that Kate will make Wills wait at the altar, followed by Kate plumping for a train of less than eight feet (2.4 metres)," said Rupert Adams, spokesman for bookmakers William Hill.

At rival chain Paddy Power, punters reckon the wedding dress will be ivory, followed by white and then champagne, and that Middleton will be walked down the aisle to the strains of Richard Wagner's "Bridal Chorus".

The first dance betting is a hotly-contested market.

The 6-1 favourite at Ladbrokes is Elton John's "Something About The Way You Look Tonight", which was a double A-side with the pop star's "Candle in the Wind 1997" tribute to William's mother Diana, princess of Wales.

Meanwhile at William Hill, it's James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" at 5-1.

No matter what the song, bookmakers are still rubbing their hands with glee. Ladbrokes expects to take one million pounds ($1.6 million, 1.1 million euros) in bets on royal wedding specials.

That represents 10 times the amount staked on the second-biggest non-sporting event: "The X Factor" singing talent contest, Britain's most-watched television show.

Donohue said Ladbrokes was taking plenty of wedding bets from expatriate British gamblers in Spain and punters from the Commonwealth.

William Hill has taken bets from more than 80 countries.

"It is now a global phenomenon," Adams told AFP.

The bookies are also taking a wide range of novelty bets.

Queen Elizabeth's husband Prince Philip is 8-1 to fall asleep during the ceremony, while Middleton's mother Carole is 23-1 to chew gum.

She is the 2-1 favourite to be the first to cry, with Elton John at 8-1. He is 7-4 to be the first celebrity spotted on the BBC coverage and 12-1 to sing live at the reception.

The bride's sister and maid of honour Pippa Middleton is the 3-1 favourite to catch the bouquet.

The wedding reception main course is 10-1 to be a traditional British roast beef dinner, with fish and chips 20-1, chicken tikka masala 40-1, swan 100-1 and corgi, the royals' favourite breed of dog, 500-1.

Paddy Power is taking bets on the first cliche in the Bishop of London's sermon. "Truly happy to be here" is the 11-4 favourite. "It's not too late to change your mind" is the 100-1 outsider.

William is 13-1 to wear glasses, 17-1 to sport a beard and 22-1 to split his trousers.

For the iconic kiss on the Buckingham Palace balcony, the prince is 1-5 to catch his new wife on the lips, 4-1 on the cheek, and 33-1 to miss completely and get her ear.

Best man Prince Harry is around 25-1 to forget the ring, to drop the ring and to be too drunk to finish his speech. He is around 18-1 to catch the bouquet and meet his future wife at the wedding.

Middleton is 100-1 to jilt her prince at the altar.

But the betting doesn't stop after the ceremony.

Markets stay open on the year, sex and name of their first child, with 2012, Spencer, John, Frances and Diana the favourites.