Indians are more interested in the impending birth of the Royal baby and the heir to the British throne than the British themselves, according to a survey.
YouGov research in the United Kingdom, US and India suggests that 57 per cent of Indian people polled online describe themselves as very or fairly interested in the birth of the Royal baby to Prince William and Kate Middleton, compared to only 46 per cent in the UK and 25 per cent in America.
"It is often said that the Royal Family is bigger in America than in Britain. But new research from YouGov reveals that it is in India, not the USA, that the birth of a new heir to the throne is most eagerly anticipated," the survey said.
The online sample in India is by definition more restricted to those Indians who are connected to the Internet, but the level of interest can be usefully compared to the samples in the UK and US where the samples have comparative access to information, the survey said.
Men from the UK, meanwhile, are less than half as interested (29 per cent) in the Royal Baby as women from the UK (60 per cent). The proportions are smallest in the US where only 13 per cent of men describe themselves as interested and 36 per cent of women.
India still tops the polls, with 52 per cent of men saying they are interested and 62 per cent of women, the survey said.
Total sample size in India was 503 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between July 3 and 10. The survey was carried out online by YouGov, an international Internet-based market research firm founded in the UK.
31-year-old Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, who is thought to have passed her due date, is staying with her parents in Bucklebury, Berkshire, together with her Prince William, who has a period of rest days from his Royal Air Force duties.
She is scheduled to have her baby in the private Lindo Wing of London's St Mary's Hospital, where the media has been camping since last week.
Kensington Palace has only confirmed that the baby is due in "mid-July".
An earlier poll had revealed that Victoria and James are the most favoured names for the royal baby among the public.
If the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a girl, the most popular name with the public is Victoria. If the third in line to the throne is a boy, however, then James is the favoured name for the new prince, according to the poll for 'The Sunday Times' conducted by YouGov.
