Princess Charlotte's godparents are expected to be drawn from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's close circle of friends.

Kate and William are likely to opt for confidantes, rather than mostly royal relatives which used to be the Windsor tradition when choosing candidates for the spiritual role.

They may have asked another of the van Cutsem brothers who are old family friends of the Duke.

They selected William van Cutsem for Prince George last time and may pick one of his siblings - Hugh, Edward or Nicholas - or perhaps Hugh's wife Rose van Cutsem this time.

The Duke of Cambridge is godfather to Hugh and Rose's daughter Grace, who was a bridesmaid at the royal wedding and almost stole the show on the balcony after covering her ears during the flypast.

The Cambridges could also choose William's old school friend Thomas van Straubenzee and his wife Lady Melissa von Straubenzee, while Kate's Marlborough College friends include Catriona "Trini" Foyle, Alice Alvenel, Alicia Stoddart and Hannah Carter.

Others in the couple's social circle include champion eventer Harry Meade and his wife Rosie; jockey Sam Waley Cohen and his wife Bella; William's school friend Tom Sutton and his wife Harriet; heir to Viscount Allendale, Wentworth "Wenty" Beaumont and his wife Vanessa; and Lady Iona Hewitt.

From the royal side, William's cousin Peter Phillips could be a safe bet, while some bookmakers have highlighted Princess Beatrice or Princess Eugenie as possible favourites.

An outside chance might be Lady Sarah Chatto, daughter of Princess Margaret, who keeps in close contact with the Queen.

Kate's sister Pippa Middleton might also be among those chosen.

Other suggestions include the Duke's former nanny Tiggy Pettifer, William and Kate's personal assistant Helen Asprey, Sir David Manning - the former ambassador to Washington who now acts as the couple's foreign affairs adviser - or perhaps even one of Diana, Princess of Wales' sisters Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes, or one of William's cousins via the Spencer family line.

George's seven godparents included just one family member - Zara Phillips.

The remainder are Oliver Baker, who attended St Andrews University with William and Kate; Hugh Grosvenor, a family friend who is the son of the Duke of Westminster; Julia Samuel, who was a close friend of Diana, Princess of Wales; William van Cutsem; Emilia Jardine-Paterson who went to Marlborough College with Kate; and the Duke and Duchess's former private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton.