JUNE Upton's mind is "running riot" with plans to host a baby shower for her favourite royals.

The self-confessed royal family fanatic has been beaming since news broke of Prince William and Kate's pregnancy yesterday morning.

"I'm just excited, over the moon, absolutely thrilled," Ms Upton said.

Within hours, bets were being taken on the sex of the baby and possible names.

"With the change in the monarchy now it doesn't matter if the first child is a boy or girl ... she could make history," Ms Upton, of Alexandra Headland, said.

"I hope the baby is healthy and if it is a girl, I'll be even more delighted."

If William and Kate do have a girl, Ms Upton thinks they will work Diana's name into the mix.

"Kate's very traditional, I don't think she'll go for any way-out names," she said.

Popular culture expert Karen Brooks has been watching the royal baby hysteria escalate and predicted a repeat of Diana's "the whole world is watching my stomach" scenario.

"In European and British history, royalty is always fascinating," she said.

"There is that fascination about birth and the continuation of the bloodline."

Ms Brooks said William and Kate's pregnancy also fed the public's thirst for "good news".

"We're hearing a lot about doom and gloom, this is something positive.

"Everyone loves a baby so there's that element too," she said.

"To have something nice to pin our hopes on, it's something people will cling to."