Little Lewis Spore was 22 minutes away from having an ordinary birthday, but a late-night dash ensured he shared the occasion with the future king.

Born two weeks early and weighing 5lbs 15oz, he arrived at 11.38pm last night – seven hours after the royal baby.

It was a glorious end to a manic day for parents Amanda Jane and David Mankelow, who hadn’t expected their son to make such an early appearance.

The couple had travelled to Margate’s QEQM Hospital earlier in the day for a routine appointment, before going home to Mortimer Street in Herne Bay.

But David barely had time to buy fish and chips before Amanda’s waters broke and they rushed back to hospital.

They heard the royal baby had been born while Amanda, 27, was in labour.

From that moment, David, 26, had his fingers crossed his son would share a birthday with the prince.

He said: “I saw it on Facebook and I remember looking at the clock at 11.05pm and turning to Amanda’s sister, Caroline, and saying ‘we’ve got 55 minutes’.”

Lewis will now receive a commemorative silver penny, worth £28, to mark his special shared birthday.

David said: “That will be another keepsake for him. It is something to be proud of.

“His birthday will always be on a bank holiday and he has got something in common with the royal family.

“Not many people can say they were born on the same day as a future king.”

David thinks the royal baby will be called Philip, but says he won’t have a flutter for fear of being “shot by the missus”.

He said: “It is going to be something to do with the current family. William might even name the child after himself. It will be along those lines.”

The kitchen manager at the Old Gate Inn, Canterbury, remains unable to put his joy into words.

He said: “Watching a baby being born is surreal. You can’t explain it.

“When Amanda was in labour I felt so helpless because there was nothing I could do, but watching him being born was my proudest moment ever.

“You can’t explain it unless you’ve seen it yourself.”