Oh baby! Parents share Royal couple's special day

As Kate Middleton went into labour on Saturday, so did Donna Harvey and Agnieszka Hebdynski.

Their little bundles of joy will forever share the same birthday with the princess.

And it was double delight for service delivery administrator Donna, who gave birth to twin boys.

She admits she was oblivious to the arrival of another little royal as she prepared for a delivery of her own.

But the links between the two mothers don't stop there. For nursing student Amy's son was also born just a short time before the birth of Prince George.

The 26-year-old and her partner Jake Poxon, a 25-year-old maintenance operative, were kept updated by staff at Walsall Manor Hospital on the progress of the royal labour on Saturday morning.

Amy said: "I think I'd just started pushing when we heard that Kate had been taken to hospital."

Baby Connie-Rose arrived fashionably late like her royal counterpart, although only by three days, weighing in at 7lb 11oz. She joined two-year-old brother Carter at the family home in Norbury Road, West Bromwich, yesterday. Carter was born a month before Prince George.

Amy said: "I've always followed the royal family, especially now that Kate has joined them and made them a bit more modern."

The former hairdresser was also impressed with Kate's elegant looks as she left St Mary's Hospital in London just hours after giving birth. She said: "She looked really glamorous."

Meanwhile the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have received a host of visitors at Kensington Palace eager to see the princess. Among the first were Prince Charles and Camilla, followed by Kate's family.

The 30-year-old gave birth to twin boys a month early by Caesarian section at Walsall Manor Hospital after they presented in the breech position.

Donna, of Hollygrove Lane, Burntwood, said: "I can remember the nurses telling me that Kate and William had had a girl but I couldn't say where I was at the time. I was totally oblivious, everything was a bit woozy that day."

She and partner Michael Williamson, a 32-year-old heating and ventilation engineer, welcomed Toby, weighing in at 5lb 13oz at 3.22pm, followed four minutes later by Tyler, a little lighter at 5lb 4oz.

The news that they were expecting not one but two babies came as a shock to Donna, who works at the Argos Distribution Centre at Acton Gate, Stafford.

She said: "I didn't even know I was pregnant till I started putting on weight. I went for a scan when we came back from holiday and I was gobsmacked when they told me I was eight weeks pregnant with twins. To be honest, I still haven't taken it in."

Agnieszka, who lives in Central Avenue, Tipton, declared that she had a princess of her own after giving birth at City Hospital, near Smethwick.

And, just like the Duchess of Cambridge, the 8lbs 13oz little girl is her second child. Hers was another late arrival, keeping mum waiting six days longer than expected.

The 32-year-old, who moved to this country from Poland with husband Mariusz, aged 29, and daughter Amelia, 11, eight years ago, said: "Everybody at work laughed when I went overdue and said the baby was waiting to arrive on the same day as the royal baby – and they were right."

Whereas the royal baby arrived late, Donna's babies came four weeks early. The couple each have a four-year-old child from previous relationships. Donna's son TJ was the first to meet his new brothers, followed later by Michael's daughter Kourtney.

Self-employed Michael said that their lives may be very different to the those of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge but when it came to the birth of children, everyone responded the same. They said the could not be happier with the new additions to their family.

"As if one baby wasn't special enough, we've got two – our own little princes," said Michael.

As someone born outside of England, Agnieszka said the shared birth was extra special. She said: "In Poland we do not have a royal family and so they are a fascination for us. Buckingham Palace was one of the first sights we visited after moving to England and we always take out Polish friends to see it when they come to visit."

Mariusz, a driver and warehouse worker employed at the same Darlaston nuts and bolts factory as his office worker wife, said: "It is a great coincidence and wonderful for our daughter to share her birthday with such an important person."

Agnieszka envied Kate giving birth two and a half hours after reaching hospital. She arrived at the City Hospital at 8am on Friday but her little girl – set to be called either Natalie or Natalia – did not arrive until 5am on Saturday.

She said: "I am sure that lots of English people wanted to have their baby at the same time as the Duchess and I am very proud that it has happened to me."