Star-crossed newborns Romeo and Juliet were born just hours apart.

In fair Bluffton, South Carolina, where we lay our scene, at 2.06pm on Monday a baby boy was born.

His parents, Morgan and Edward Hernandez, named him “Romeo”, which is a funky name to be sure, but rather unremarkable in these modern times.

But THEN, as if it were written in the stars, a little girl was born, just metres away in the next room, exactly 18 and hours and eight minutes later.

Her name? Juliet! Born to the noble House of Shifflett. Bloody poetic, huh?

The story was shared on the popular Love What Matters Facebook page after being submitted by Cassie Clayshulte Photography who photographed the newborns.

Both sets of parents had picked the Shakespearean names out early in their pregnancies and had never met before this week.

The star-crossed bubs both have full heads of hair and “already make the cutest couple”.

Fingers crossed their inevitable romance has a happier ending than their namesakes.

“I defy you, stars.” – these babies, basically.

Listen to the latest episode of Hello Bump here…