Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘We got there first with our own little prince!’
Silver penny
tcollins@thekmgroup.co.uk A “prince” born just hours before the Royal baby has been given the name bookies are saying is the most likely for the third in line to the throne.
Ashford parents Katriona Sharp, 32 and husband David, 47, gave birth to their son George at 1.19pm on Monday, almost exactly three hours before the Royal birth at 4.24pm.
The couple, from Park Farm, Kingsnorth, have two other sons, Charlie, six, and Tom, four.
Bookmakers were giving odds of 2/1 as the Kentish Express went to press yesterday (Wednesday), that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would also follow the couple in their choice of name.
But Kat, as she is known, says that the regal connections of the name George are just a coincidence.
“Both of my other sons have very traditional names, and George had been on our shortlist for some time,” she said.
“It would be a really big coincidence if Kate and I went into labour at the same time AND chose the same name.
“But we’ve set the trend really, and we can say that we got there first!”
George was born by Caesarean section at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, so his parents knew the exact day he would be born.
He was one of 24 children born in hospitals across east Kent on the same day as the Royal prince.
That Kate would go into labour on the same day was a stroke of luck, but one that the Sharps say they relish.
“It’s a once in a lifetime experience,” Kat added.
“David has joked that perhaps our little prince will grow up to be Prime Minister some day. A friend of mine has also suggested that we should meet up with Kate and the baby for a play date.
“We’ve always said that whatever our children choose to do with their lives and careers, we just want them to be happy. There’s obviously a lot more pressure on Wills and Kate and their child.”
The couple have been following the Royal baby developments in the news.
About the new parents, Kat said: “We watched the footage of Kate coming out of hospital, and she was looking very glamorous, which isn’t really the reality of a woman who’s just given birth.
“They’re both going to be feeling sleep deprived and her hormones will be all over the place.
“But they will also be feeling sheer joy every time they look at their baby, you can spend hours just staring at your newborn.” All babies born on the same day as the new prince can apply for a free silver penny made by the Royal Mint.
The mint is giving away 2,013 coins in either a pink or blue pouch for babies born on the same day as the Royal baby.
If parents miss out on one of the free coins, they can also purchase one - for £28.
Kat also says that she has high hopes for the new generation of Royals.
“We could see that Kate was a bit nervous when she passed the baby to Wills, which is typically over-protective of a new mother. But Wills seemed to just take it in his stride,” she said.
“From what we’ve seen and read in the media, it seems he’s going to be really hands on.
“A generation ago the mother did all the work, but I can picture Wills knee deep in nappies and 2am feeds, a much more modern type of parent. That’s not something I can imagine of Prince Charles.
“I think it’s nice he will be so involved and I just hope that in these early days they can shut themselves away for now and enjoy being a family.”
What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford, TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@ thekmgroup.co.uk