Bets on hold ... a British bookmaker says it has stopped taking bets on the Queen announcing her abdication in her Christmas Day message. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Coral insisted it was not a marketing stunt, saying: “These gambles tend to resurface, especially around the Royal Family.”

It was offering odds of 10-1 on the Queen announcing her abdication in the Christmas broadcast and said it received a handful of bets on Wednesday, including one of STG200 ($381).

But a Royal source has dismissed the speculation in an interview with the UK Telegraph.

“If the Queen was going to make a major announcement, she wouldn’t do it in a pre-recorded speech that is shown in the South Pacific Commonwealth realms several hours before it is shown here,” the source told the newspaper.

“It would mean the end of her reign would officially be announced in Tuvalu, rather than in London. So no, it’s not true.”

Doing the rounds ... Britain's Queen Elizabeth II meets Eton pupil Arthur Chatto, grandson of her late sister Princess Margaret, during a visit to Holyport College in Berkshire. Picture: AP Source: AP

Bookie William Hill said it had not taken any abdication bets but had cut odds on the Queen announcing any time before midnight on December 31 that she is abdicating from 15-1 to 5-1, “just in case there’s something in the rumour”.

A spokeswoman for Ladbrokes said: “We do not offer odds on the Queen to abdicate as many people will interpret that as you taking bets on her death. Something which is quite clearly incredibly distasteful.”

The Coral spokesman said: “Throughout the year there has been major speculation about the Queen’s future but today’s gamble has really caught us by surprise.”

British royalty ... Queen Elizabeth II with her son Prince Charles, grandson Prince William and husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at Clarence House in 2003 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her coronation. Picture: News Ltd Source: News Limited

“As far as we are concerned, there’s no smoke without fire when bets like this come through all in succession, so we have decided to be safe rather than sorry and pull the plug on the market.”

But a source close to the Royal Household said they would “point people to the two declarations that the Queen made first of all on her 21st birthday and secondly on her coronation on the second of June 1953”.

In a speech in 1947 on her 21st birthday the Queen said: “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.”

In 1953 she said: “I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.”

Crowned ... Britain's Queen Elizabeth II accompanied by Prince Philip at her coronation at Westminster Abbey in 1953. Picture: AFP Source: AFP