( CNN ) As the Great Kate Wait of 2015 drags on , giving a whole new meaning to Kate 's somewhat unfair noughties nickname , `` Waity Katie , '' bets on the arrival of a new baby a girl continue to be placed at a feverish rate . As of today , 70 % of those laying down their hard earned cash are convinced the world is on the verge of welcoming a new princess . I suspect different parties are hoping for a girl for different reasons . Based on the so called `` Kate Effect '' and subsequent `` George Effect , '' the great British High Street is no doubt salivating at the prospect of record sales should HRH Princess ( fill in the blank ) of Cambridge be spotted in one of their outfits . As one headline blared this week , `` Baby girl could be worth $ 1.5 billion to the country . '' Magazine and newspaper editors are well aware of the dramatic rise in sales when a royal baby hits the cover , especially a little girl . And then there 's Disney , which will always appreciate princesses in the zeitgeist , but as with all things relating to the monarchy , there is also a far greater historical significance should a baby girl arrive . There have been 34 Kings and only six Queens over the course of the British Monarchy 's thousand-year history , and yet some of the nation 's most enlightened times have occurred when a Queen has been on the throne . Elizabeth I led the country through the Golden Age , and Victoria and Elizabeth II -- the two longest reigning monarchs -- both made their mark with perhaps the most illustrious and progressive legacies of all . While it is unlikely this child will ever be crowned , as the daughter of the second-in-line to the throne , her role will be significant . Prince Charles has made no secret of his desire to slim down the monarchy , but in looking at his family 's immediate bloodline -- William , Harry and George -- it stands to be a heavily male-dominated one . In an institution viewed by some as archaic and out of touch , it is imperative to have a strong female presence . Princess Anne -- Baby Cambridge 's great-aunt -- grew up with three brothers , and was once described as , `` the greatest King the country never had . '' She is patron of more than 200 charitable organizations and carries out some 500 public engagements a year . A noted equestrian , she won two silver medals and a gold at the European Eventing Championships , and was the first member of the royal family to compete at the Olympics . More importantly she has supported her mother throughout her reign , flown the flag for Britain and promoted brand Windsor around the world . As the only girl born to Elizabeth and Philip , she has matched and often surpassed the accomplishments of her brothers . Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie , also true blood princesses , are not `` working members '' of the royal family and generally only roll out for state and ceremonial occasions . So , yes , it would be nice for the baby to be a girl so that we can all ooh and ah over frilly dresses , fairy wings and ballet shoes ( although as a Windsor she 's more likely to be mucking out stables and shooting pheasant ) , but in truth the birth of a girl matters on a far deeper level : the monarchy needs a baby girl to fill the female void of future generations . The 20th century was ushered in by Queen Victoria and the 21st by Queen Elizabeth II . Should George live to eighty-seven he will be the first monarch of the 22nd century , but as I have said before the British monarchy is anything but predictable . If punters are right and William and Kate do announce the birth of a baby girl as the rightful `` spare , '' it 's certainly possible that a seventh Queen may ring in the year 2100 . In the event the couple welcomes a boy , however , I sincerely hope there wo n't be a collective groan of disappointment heard around the world -- after all on the few occasions we have seen Prince George he has been a veritable treat . The birth of any baby is cause for celebration regardless of gender , race , religion or indeed status , and as Prince Harry , the world 's most eligible bachelor has shown , games of naked billiards can sell magazines too . READ MORE : Please do n't name the royal baby Diana .
British monarchy 's 1,000-year history has seen 34 Kings and just 6 Queens on the throne . Anne argues the royal family needs a baby girl to fill the female void of future generations .