As the nation rejoiced over the birth of a future king, eight bouncing babies born in Islington will share his birthday.
The Whittington Hospital, in Magdala Avenue, Archway, welcomed four boys and four girls into the world on Monday – the same day as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s son was born.
For one happy couple, Anja and Fernando Oliveira, the fact that their daughter Ella was born alongside the royal baby is nothing new, because their six-year-old twins already share a birthday with an heir to the Danish throne.
Mrs Oliveira, 38, who is originally from Denmark, said: “It’s exciting and very nice for Ella to share a birthday with the heir to the throne. It’s such a coincidence that my other two children, Paula and Gael, were born on the same day as Prince Christian, who is also third in line to the Danish throne. It’s nice that they all have special birthdays.
“It’s really funny that when Kate was admitted to hospital in December with morning sickness, it was exactly the time when I was very bad with sickness myself. So I have felt her pain all the way through.
“I have always been a royalist and a big fan of the monarchy in Denmark. They have been very interested in the British royal baby over there – they have followed it very closely with lots of news updates.”
Baby Ella was born at around 9.30am – a few hours before Kate and William’s child – and weighed 9lb 4oz. Mrs Oliveria says she is in fine fettle after labour.
“I am feeling good,” she said. “Not too tired. And I’m being very well taken care of here at the Whittington.”
Excited
Meanwhile, Dorottya Kovasznai, of Fairbridge Road, Archway, gave birth to her first baby – Sebastian – at 11.09am at University College Hospital, in Euston Road, Camden.
She said: “I think it’s really funny that he was born on the same day – he wasn’t doing it on purpose, I’m sure. I was scheduled to be induced on Wednesday but we came in for a check up and this is what happened. I had no idea that it was the same day until people started texting me.
“My whole pregnancy has been in parallel with the Duchess’. We’ve copied each other – or rather she copied me because Sebastian was born first!”
A close friend of Prince William, who lives in Highbury, spoke of his excitement about the birth of the Duke and Duchess’s first child as he arrived back from what is thought to be the first recorded kayak crossing of the North Sea between Britain and Norway.
Oliver Hicks, 31, of Highbury Corner, said he was looking forward to being introduced to the infant after battling 7ft waves on the 200-mile mission with fellow rower Patrick Winterton.
Mr Hicks, who attended the royal wedding and was greeted by the prince when he became the youngest person to row solo from America to Britain, aged 23, said ahead of the birth: “It is such great – and very happy – news.
“I hope it all goes smoothly and I wonder if the little one will be like William or Kate.
“I look forward to meeting the nipper in due course.”
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