WHILE the world’s media was focused on St Mary’s Hospital eagerly awaiting news of the royal baby on St George’s Day, Mark and Kayleigh Elliott, of Haydon Bridge, had more pressing concerns.

Their first child, with the suitably royal name Henry, was born at 12.51am on Monday morning weighing 7lb 40z – just 11 hours before the prince and fifth in line to the throne was born.

Mark said: “My gran had been saying for weeks he might be due the same day as the royal baby. I think she was hoping for this, because she’s a big fan of the royals!”

Kayleigh added: “We were booked in to have him at Cramlington, so I had him there and then we came to Hexham afterwards.

“Both Hexham and Cramlington have been great. He’s no bother; he just sleeps!”