A set of identical quadruplets who beat the odds to even be born are turning 18 – and are about to separate for the first time.

Doctors told Jose and Julie Carles, from in Upper Caldecote, Bedfordshire, it was more likely they would win the lottery than that all four of their babies would live.

But 18 years on Ellie, Georgie, Jessica and Holly are happy and healthy as they reach adulthood. The four siblings were born minutes apart on March 23, 2006.

The sisters are planning a low-key meal with their father Jose, 51, and mother Julie, 55, to mark their 18th birthday – and their parents have revealed how they all have different plans for the future.

Jose said: ‘Georgie and Ellie are currently doing their A levels. Georgie has been offered a place to study at the University of Creative Arts but she might defer a year and go travelling with Ellie.

‘Jess and Holly both have another year at college. I think they will miss each other but they will enjoy the freedom. They will always have each other.’ 

Identical quadruplets (L-R) Holly, Jess, Georgie and Ellie who beat the odds to even be born are turning 18 – and are about to separate for the first time

Julie and Jose went for an 11-week scan after finding out they were pregnant in September 2005.

They found out they had quadruplets and that they were monochorionic – where babies are dependent on a shared placenta.

Julie, a regional operations manager, said: ‘Initially the sonographer said it was unlikely that they would survive. 

‘We were traumatised and upset due to the situation we found ourselves in. He told us we had more chance of winning the lottery.

‘Over the weekend we did some research and accepted it, we felt like we were given a gift. I was a healthy 37-year-old. We knew we had to go forward with it.’

Julie was admitted to Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital, London, for monitoring when she reached 23 weeks.

She said: ‘It was really hard, it was the first time that Jose and I had ever been away from each other.

Georgie, Holly, Ellie and Jess pictured at just two years old.  Doctors told Jose and Julie Carles, from in Upper Caldecote, Bedfordshire, it was more likely they would win the lottery than that all four of their babies would live

The foursome were born minutes apart on March 23, 2006 (pictured on their third birthday) 

The sisters are planning a low-key meal with their father Jose (pictured right), 51, and mother Julie (pictured left), 55, to mark their 18th birthday – and their parents have revealed how they all have different plans for the future 

Ellie, Georgina, Jessica and Holly Carles were born just minutes apart, between 14:16pm and 14:19pm – and weighing 2lb 8oz, 2lb 7oz, 2lbs and 1lbs 9oz respectively (pictured on their fifth birthday) 

‘I was getting bigger and bigger and the pressure on the body was getting more intense.’

The youngsters created a sensation when they were born on 23 March 2006 to Julie and husband Jose at odds of 64million to one. 

Ellie, Georgina, Jessica and Holly Carles arrived minutes apart, between 14:16pm and 14:19pm – and weighing 2lb 8oz, 2lb 7oz, 2lbs and 1lbs 9oz respectively.

Julie said: ‘I had a C-section and it felt like it lasted around five minutes in total it was really quick. They were taken straight to the NICU for eight weeks. The first few days were critical but they were looked after so well.

‘As soon as they were out of danger, they were moved to Lister Hospital, Stevenage, until we could bring them home.’

The day Julie and Jose were able to bring the girls home was the ‘best day of their life’. Julie said that Georgie was the first to stand at nine months.

The sisters parents revealed the girls plans for the future, saying they are all doing their own thing (pictured at 16 years old) 

The sisters, L-R Jess, Holly Georgie and Ellie, grew up very close. Pictured at 12 years old 

Ellie, Holly, Georgie and Jess will be celebrating their 18th birthday on March 23, 2024

Ellie, Georgie, Jess and Holly are planning a low-key meal with their parents to mark the day

She said: ‘Once one of them does something the rest would copy, Jess was the last of them to walk and talk. 

‘I remember their first day of preschool, they loved it, and they didn’t worry about me.

‘Pre-school had to put their initials on their collars for teachers as they would just get them mixed up.’ 

When it came to starting school, Julie and Jose said they were worried that they wouldn’t make new friends as they would usually stick together. But Julie said they ‘thrived’ as they were all placed in different classes.

She said: ‘They were happy to be separated, they branched out and their personalities developed. When they started upper school they placed them in pairs which wasn’t ideal at all.

‘That is the time when you break away from your family but that didn’t happen for them as they were together.’

Ellie, Georgina, Jessica and Holly will be celebrating their 18th birthday on March 23, 2024.

Julie said: ‘Them turning 18 makes us really proud. You don’t often get to look back at what you have done over the years.

‘It is only when someone points it out we are like ‘oh my gosh’ what we have done is amazing.’

She added: ‘The girls have asked us to go for a meal and then they have asked us to take them to a concert.

‘They haven’t really asked for much to be fair, we’re going to celebrate the day as a family. We’re a very close family.’