As the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to the future King of England on Monday, new parents were royally proud to announce the birth of their own bundles of joy in Ellesmere Port and Chester.
Rebecca Nield, from Ellesmere Port, safely delivered one of the seven babies born at the Countess on Monday – her baby daughter Elissa, who was born at 1pm, just three hours before Kate Middleton gave birth to her son.
The 22-year-old had been admitted to hospital on Sunday and was in labour for several hours before welcoming Elissa, who weighed a healthy eight pounds and three ounces.
Rebecca said she was ‘excited’ that her first child shares a birthday with royalty.
Meanwhile, Marie Smith and Glen O’Hara, from Hoole, weren’t expecting their delivery until next week, so it was a special surprise when Alaiya Lily arrived just in the nick of time on such a special day at 11.59pm.
Proud mum Marie, 36, said: “When I was induced on Monday the doctors really didn’t expect much to happen at first because it was quite a slow process for a while.
“Until about 20 minutes before she was born we still weren’t expecting her to be be born before midnight but she arrived at 11.59pm weighing 7lbs 9.5oz on the same day as the royal baby, which is very exciting.”
Gill Brown, ward manager at the Countess of Chester’s maternity ward, said she hoped the royal birth would provide some reassurance to anxious parents to be.
“Of course it is a very exciting day and what we’re all wanting to know is how Kate got on, how her labour was and what the baby will be called.
“I hope it will reassure our ladies that births can be healthy.”
And as someone who has seen a variety of baby names come and go, Gill has her own predictions about what the future King’s name will be.
“We’re all thinking James or George and possibly Philip in there somewhere too. It will definitely be something traditional.”
Babies born on the same day as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child will receive a free ‘lucky’ silver penny. It will be presented in a pink or blue pouch, has been marked with the year 2013 to commemorate the babies' year of birth and features a shield of the Royal Arms.
The Royal Mint said parents of newborns who share their birthday with the third-in-line to the throne need to apply online for one of the 2,013 coins that have been struck by visiting Facebook.com/theroyalmint.
They have 60 days to register for the coin and will need to provide a copy of their child's birth certificate to qualify.
