HAPPY birthday Prince George – and Princess Della!
Today, the future monarch is celebrating his first birthday – and so is this little princess.
Della Manders, from Cleethorpes, shares her special day with the Prince and was one of just 12 babies born on July 22 last year chosen to take part in a very special celebration in St James' Park at the weekend.
Independent auditors were asked by the Royal Mint to select one baby from each of the 11 home regions of the 1,700 babies who were born on that day and presented with commemorative silver pennies.
It just so happened that one of those families selected happened to be twins, meaning a dozen very special babies were invited to enjoy their first birthday celebrations in the Park, and at a prestigious London hotel.
They were all presented with a commemorative sterling silver £5 coin bearing the heraldic Royal Arms design, struck in Prince George's honour.
Della's parents Dorann and Clark -– who own Candiland sweet shop and Scoops ice cream parlour on Cleethorpes seafront – took her to the capital for a party fit for a little princess.
Dorann, 37, said they had a fantastic day.
"It was wonderful from start to finish, the weather was great, wonderful food and the people from the Royal Mint were the loveliest people you could ever meet. The hotel was fantastic as well.
"Della was so good, she had a lovely time.
"We couldn't believe it when we got the phone call to say she had been chosen from 1,700 babies. It was a fantastic day and something special that we will always remember."
And it's been a real week of celebrations for the Manders family – Della's oldest sister Ava celebrated her ninth birthday yesterday, and her other sister, Lola, turned five on July 17.
Dorann said: "It's a very busy and expensive month for us!"
Della had been due on July 19 and although Dorann was taken into Grimsby's maternity hospital on her due date, Della held on until July 22 to make an appearance.
"It was a long wait," said Dorann.
Shane Bissett, director of Commemorative Coin and Bullion at The Royal Mint said: "The birth of Prince George of Cambridge was a joyous occasion not just for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge but also for the whole nation.
"As he turns one, we wanted to mark this historical moment with Della, who shares this special birthday, with a commemorative sterling silver £5 coin she can treasure forever.
"The choice of a silver coin is significant, too, as crossing the precious metal across a baby's palm is a way to wish them wealth and good health throughout their life, whilst the £5 coin is a favourite for royal celebrations."
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