The Royal Family were not the only ones celebrating new life yesterday, as mothers across the borough welcomed their own princes and princesses.

Victoria Leat, who lives in Barnet, gave birth to her daughter Lily 14 minutes before the Duchess of Cambridge had her baby boy.

She and her husband Warren had given up hope of having a child, so yesterday’s happy event was doubly special.

Mr Leat said: “Once we saw our little princess everything else faded into the background. We had eyes for her only.

“It was only afterwards we realised the royal baby had been born on the same day too.”

Mrs Leat, who gave birth at University College Hospital’s Elizabeth Garrett Anderson maternity wing, added it would be “fun” for her daughter to be the same age as the future king.

She said: “We’re fans of the Royals so it’s very sweet our baby and the prince share a birthday.

“She’s a very lovely baby; she’s so chilled while all the others are howling. We’re very lucky”

Mrs Leat added her baby was born by caesarian section, so she had planned to give birth yesterday.

“When we were heading off to come here, our neighbour stuck her head over the fence and said: ‘Who is going to be first, you or Catherine?’ That’s when we knew she had gone into labour.

“We won the race, just.”

Valerina Fernandes, who lives in Golders Green, said her mother had predicted her baby Amelia would share a birthday with the prince.

She said: “I wasn’t due until August 2, but my mother was sure my baby would be born yesterday, she was proved right.

“She also said my daughter might marry the future king, though that’s far too far away.”

Mrs Fernandes, who gave birth at 7am, said her new daughter was a “sweet angel” and it was nice to know she was exactly the same age as Princess Kate’s son.

The mother of two, who gave birth at the Royal Free hospital said: “We were given presents including a baby suit we were told were from the Royal Family. It was such a special gesture.”