When Monica Dubsky from Dover was in labour on Monday afternoon, she knew it was likely the Duchess of Cambridge could be giving birth too.

But she had no idea until a couple of hours later how right she was.

Baby Leon Mason was born at 4.37pm in the Folkestone Ward of William Harvey Hospital, Ashford – just 13 minutes after the heir to the throne.

Miss Dubsky, who lives with Leon’s father Lloyd Mason at Brookfield Road, said: “We were actually due on the same day anyway and then overdue by nine days, so I knew it could happen.

“It was at the back of my mind throughout the labour but nobody knew or said anything until about two hours after he was born.”

Monica, 21, moved to Dover from Hawkinge about two years ago and has been working as a stewardess for P&O.

Her partner, a former pupil of St Edmund’s School, works as a third officer on the ferry company’s newest ship the Pride of France.

She added: “We are both speechless about the fact he was born so close.

“I still can’t believe something that is so much bigger than I thought was in my tummy. Birth is a miracle.”

Leon, who weighed in at 8lb 2oz, has been very settled, arriving at his home in Dover at about 5pm on Tuesday.

Monica added: “He hasn’t cried once since he was born

“We have just moved in to our house. We’ve been working to get it ready for when the baby arrived.

“We finished the day before he was born so all the pieces of our jigsaw have fallen into place.”

The couple are going to enjoy Lloyd’s paternity leave before he returns to work in five weeks’ time.

“We are just going to enjoy our new home and our new son – and enjoy every second of being a family”.