It was a string of happy coincidences for Catherine.
The new mum aged 30 gave birth to a healthy baby boy just hours before another Catherine celebrated a new arrival.
But unlike her namesake the world’s media were not camped on the hospital forecourt for the birth of Catherine Daniel’s son.
And our Catherine, of Barkisland, was pleased about that.
She gave birth to her son Oscar James – a healthy 7lb 13 – with her husband Russell at her side in the Birth Centre at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
The baby arrived at 9.25am on Monday – seven hours before the royal arrival.
She said: “It’s crazy. I’ve had a few texts from friends saying about the happy royal coincidence.
“I had a water birth with gas and air, which I think Kate had indicated she wanted, but of course, we don’t actually know.
“Everything with my labour went as planned. My waters broke at 3am and I came into the Birth Centre.
“I was lucky as it wasn’t as hot as it has been.
“The staff and midwives have been brilliant. It couldn’t have gone any better.”
Catherine said throughout her pregnancy, it had occurred to her that she and Kate could share their big day.
She said: “When I was having morning sickness and I saw on the news Kate had been admitted to hospital for acute morning sickness I thought about it.”
But due to the Duchess remaining tight-lipped about her actual due date Catherine said she wasn’t sure whether it would coincide with the royal birth.
And while the royal family announced the birth outside Buckingham Palace on an easel and later on social media, Catherine added: “We phoned our family and then put it on Facebook. I didn’t put it on Twitter as it’s more for people we know.”
Reports suggest that Duchess of Cambridge was around 41 weeks pregnant when she gave birth – a week overdue.
But Catherine was due to give birth on July 21.
She said: “For her to cope with the heat and the world’s media circus as she was going into hospital was quite something.
“I just packed some comfortable clothes but no doubt she will have designer labels and we have heard the royal hair dresser has even visited.
“I just hope once the name is announced they can have some private time with their new family.”
And the Daniel family has now applied for a silver penny to commemorate their new bundle of joy on the same day as William and Kate’s arrival.
She added: “I think we have to send the birth certificate away. It is quite a nice idea. We do love the royals!
“We had a barbecue for the Royal Wedding and celebration for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.”
Also sharing the future monarch’s birthday were another two babies born at the HRI Birth Centre on Monday.
And over at Calderdale Royal seven babies were born on the maternity ward and four in the birthing centre, with one lady opting for a home birth.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge proudly showed the world their baby son, a future king, before taking him home last night.
William and Kate began their new lives as parents, cradling their baby prince and posing for pictures on the steps of the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in London.
