The Heir Apparent Is Due Any Day: Ask.com Unveils What Americans Think About Britain's Famous Baby

OAKLAND, Calif., July 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The global fascination with the royal baby can almost be satiated—William and Kate's bundle of joy is due any moment. Ask.com, a leading online brand for questions and answers, today released data culled from its 100 million monthly users to reveal Americans' thoughts about the arrival of Britain's littlest heir.

Findings include (see below for full methodology):

No "Spare" with the "Heir?"
While seven in 10 respondents think there will be another royal delivery in the not-too-distant future, nearly 15 percent of respondents say William and Kate will raise an only child. For those betting on a "spare," the thinking is the next child will come quick:

• 25 percent of respondents say within one year
• 46 percent of respondents say within two years
• 15 percent say within three years

Charles: Absentee No More
During William's and Harry's childhood, the perception may have been that Charles was too busy hunting to help Diana with child-rearing, but Ask survey respondents believe Charles will excel as a grandfather. Ask users feel that Charles will be a better grandfather than he was a father, with a 12 percent margin between the two:

• 54 percent of respondents thought that Charles was a good father
• When asked if Charles would be a good grandfather, nearly two-thirds (66 percent) said yes

Fit for a Queen
Charles may be heralded as a strong grandfather-to-be, but Ask users think that Queen Elizabeth will trump the paternal granddaddy when it comes to the first public snapshot with the new heir.

When asked 'who will be seen holding the baby first," more than one in two people (52 percent) gave Queen Elizabeth the honors; other users responded as follows:

• 27 percent responded that Prince Charles would be seen first with the baby
• 13 percent responded that Carole Middleton would be the first seen holding the baby
• 7 percent responded that Pippa Middleton would be seen first with the baby

Royals at Work
There's speculation William will leave his post with the Royal Air Force when his tour ends, but no official announcement has been made. According to Ask, the majority of Americans (60 percent) think he should stay put.

As for Kate, nearly one in two respondents think the new mother will take at least a few months of maternity leave. When do Americans think she'll return to her royal duties?

• 48 percent said she will take three or more months
• 19 percent said within two months
• 17 percent said within two weeks
• 16 percent said within one month

A Name Fit for a King...or Queen
The stakes are high when it comes to speculation on the name for the royal baby and Ask users think that William and Kate will go the traditional route.

If Kate delivers a boy, one-third of respondents (34 percent) think the baby will be called William after his father, followed by Edward (27 percent), Charles (23 percent) or George (16 percent).

Elizabeth is considered to be the most likely name if the couple welcome a little girl, according to 29 percent of poll respondents, beating out contenders like Charlotte, Victoria and even Diana. Two in five respondents (40 percent) believe the parents should have multiple names at the ready in preparation for twins.

"As the world waits for the details on the Prince or Princess of Cambridge, the spotlight on the royal family has never been stronger," said Valerie Combs, Ask.com celebrity and trend expert. "Our users weighed in on everything from which relative would be the first photographed holding the heir to the throne, to how quickly William and Kate will add another baby to their brood."

The findings are derived from user polls featured on Ask.com, collected over a six-day period and including responses from over 7,900 poll participants.  

About Ask.com
With 100 million global users, Ask.com is a leading online brand for questions and answers and an operating business of IAC. Now available as a mobile service, Ask.com mobile apps have been downloaded more than 3 million times. More information is available at www.ask.com or http://blog.ask.com.

SOURCE Ask.com