Around 8,500 babies are born in the LWH in Toxteth every year, and around nine babies have already been born in the Liverpool hospital since midnight. I've just been told that there are three caesareans booked in for today. The first one has already helped bring little George into the world - quite a royal name that one, a taste of things to come?

I have just been speaking to Jeanette Ratcliffe, 29 and Paul McCarthy, 30, who have just welcomed Milly, four hours, into the world. Despite neither of them having slept for more than 24 hours they were happy for me to have a sit down and coo at their new daughter.

When the couple found out Jeanette was pregnant, they were hoping their child might arrive at the same time as William and Kate's and are now urging the duchess on.

"I did feel under pressure to hold on to her until Kate went into labour," said Ratclife. "As soon as we told our family this morning the first thing they said was that Kate had also gone into labour, so she has stole our thunder a bit." But the couple were delighted their daughter might share the same birthday as the heir to the throne.

"It just makes it a bit more special," said McCarthy. "It will be a nice story to tell her and we will have the silver coin to show her when she is older." She will also have a little bib with "princess" on it - a little present to mums at the hospital giving birth today.

It is fair to say that Ratcliffe, who was induced over 24 hours, was not thinking about the Duchess of Cambridge when she finally went in labour. "I was just thinking, give me my baby now - I've been waiting such a long time." Taking a peek at the wrinkly, pink bundle beside her, she added: "I still can't believe she is here, I just keep staring at her. She is so perfect."