Organising a child’s birthday party is always a challenge – let alone when you have quadruplets to please.

But at least the parents of Reuben, Samuel, Zachary and Joshua Robbins only have to throw one every four years… technically.

The siblings, Britain’s first leap-year quads, are due to celebrate their ‘third’ birthday today a dozen years after their premature birth.

They were born over six minutes on February 29, 2012, defying odds of 3.5million to one.

Quadruplets, at their home in Chepstow, who were born on a leap year, so even though they are turning 12 this month, technically they are only just celebrating their 3rd birthday. (L-R) Samuel, Joshua, Zachary and Reuben

Reuben, Samuel, Zachary and Joshua Robbins were all born on February 29 in 2012, within six minutes of each other

Emma Robbins, 43, and her husband Martin already had a son, three-year-old Luke, when they tried for what they thought would be their second child.

But the couple were shocked to discover that Mrs Robbins was carrying naturally-conceived quadruplets.

Speaking to the Mail in 2013, she said she had been told by a series of doctors to terminate two of the babies to save the others. 

She added: ‘But I knew each time I looked at my surviving babies I’d also be thinking about the ones I’d lost.’

Two months before her due date, Mrs Robbins went into labour. 

Reuben was the first to be delivered by caesarean section, followed by Zachary, Joshua and finally Samuel.

The brothers now live with their father Martin, 50, in Chepstow, south Wales, while Mrs Robbins has since returned to her native South Africa with the boys’ older brother.

Three of the boys are genetically identical, while Samuel looks like Luke. 

Mr Robbins said: ‘Competition is fierce. They are still sorting out their pecking order and do require space.’

Emma Robbins, mother of quadruplets Samuel, Joshua, Zachary and Reuben

Reuben was the first to be delivered by caesarean section, followed by Zachary, Joshua and finally Samuel

(L-R) Samuel, Joshua, Reuben and Zachary, pictured together on February 16, 2024