What royal baby news means for Prince Harry

Harry greeted the baby news with a thumbs-up yesterday. Photo / Getty Images

William and Kate's new baby will be fifth in line to the throne - pushing their uncle Harry into sixth place.

Harry said he was "very, very happy" for his brother and sister-in-law, telling journalists "it's fantastic."

Asked how Kate was doing, he replied: "I haven't seen her in a while, but I think she's okay."

Whether the new little royal is a prince or princess, the 2013 shake-up of royal succession to remove male bias means the baby will be behind both brother George and sister Charlotte, as well as their father and grandfather.

William and Kate have announced they are expecting a third child. Photo / Getty Images

Harry - who greeted the baby news with a thumbs-up yesterday - drops down in the pecking order but as sixth in line he will still need the Queen's permission to marry should he pop the question to actress girlfriend Meghan Markle.

It is expected Harry will propose to girlfriend Meghan in December. Photo / Getty Images

Prince Andrew will drop to seventh in line, and so will no longer need his mother's permission to marry. His daughters Beatrice and Eugenie are next in line, with Prince Edward in tenth.

The race to guess the baby's name has already started with bookmakers saying Alice or Victoria are the clear favourites if it's a girl and Arthur or Albert are most likely of it's a boy.

In July Kate hinted at a third child on a royal tour of Poland with her family. She was given a Whisbear cuddly toy meant for a newborn and said to William, laughing: "We will just have to have more babies".