Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, are preparing to welcome their second baby later this month and royal fans around the world are waiting in anticipation. The arrival of other babies born on the same day as the little Prince or Princess, however, won't go amiss.
The Royal Mint has announced that it will be giving out special coins to 2,015 babies who share the same birthday as the fourth-in-line to the throne.
The coin will be a lucky silver penny, which will be minted with the current effigy of Her Majesty the Queen and struck with the baby's birth year. It will come presented in an elegant box and finished with a suitably regal purple ribbon.
The Royal Mint will give out 2,015 coins to babies born on the same day as the Prince or Princess
In keeping with an age-old tradition, crossing the palm of a new born baby with silver, or offering them a silver penny, is seen as a way to wish them wealth and good health throughout their life.
Mothers and fathers who wish to claim one of the coins for their own new arrival will have to register the birth of their baby on Facebook.com/theroyalmint for a chance to be selected. They will have 60 days following the birth of the second royal baby to apply.
Kate and Prince William are expected to welcome their second child in mid-to-late April
Much like when Prince George was born in 2013, The Royal Mint celebrated the future King's birthday in a similar way, by gifting similar coins to 2,013 lucky babies.
The coin house also struck a limited edition £5 piece in George's honour and for the first time in the nation's history, a second £5 coin was also created to commemorate the toddler's christening in October 2013.
Much like with Prince George's birth, the second royal baby's arrival will be marked with a new £5 coin
Following suit, the birth of the second royal baby, expected to be in mid-to-late April, will be marked with the release of a new £5 coin. The Queen approved the decision during a meeting of the Privy Council at Buckingham Palace last month.
The Royal Mint has a long custom of striking coins for the country's kings and queens, and has been marking important historical events and special occasions for over 1,000 years.
