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Zara Phillips, Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter, is pregnant and will have her first baby in the New Year, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Miss Phillips, who won a silver medal with the Olympics eventing team last summer, is understood to be just over three months pregnant.
She married Mike Tindall, 34, the England rugby player, in July 2011.
Her parents, Princess Anne and Capt Mark Phillips, and Tindall's parents Philip and Linda are said to be "delighted" with the news.
Despite her pregnancy, Miss Phillips, 32, who uses her maiden name when competing, has continued to take part in equestrian events. Last week, she came off her horse
at the Barbury Horse Trials near Swindon, Wilts, but was described as "fine" by her spokesman.
She will carry on competing for a while longer, her spokesman said, and she is due at three events later this month, with rides on six horses. However, Her baby will be 16th in line to the throne and will be the Queen's fourth great-grandchild. Peter Phillips has two children with his wife, Autumn, and the Duchess of Cambridge is due to give birth soon.
A statement from Buckingham Palace said: "Mr and Mrs Mike Tindall are very pleased to announce that Zara Tindall is expecting a baby in the New Year. The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips, Mr Phillip and Mrs Linda Tindall, and members of both families are delighted with the news.
"This baby will be the first child for Mike and Zara and the third grandchild for the Princess Royal."
Peter Phillips said: "Everyone is delighted, really, really happy for everyone and for both of them." He said he was looking forward to having his niece or nephew round to play with his children, Savannah, three, and one-year-old Isla. "We had cousins growing up so it's always nice to have family, to have cousins to play with. It's fantastic," he said. David Cameron's spokesman said it was "terrific news" that the couple were expecting, and that the Prime Minister would be sending his best wishes to them personally.
A spokesman for Miss Phillips said: "She will definitely be back in the saddle soon. If she pulls out of an event it will be because the horse isn't ready, rather than her." However, the British team for the European eventing chamionships, announced hours after Buckingham Palace had confirmed the pregnancy, does not include Miss Phillips. The event takes place at the end of August, suggesting she has decided to finish competing by then.
Miss Phillips, who won a silver medal with the Olympics eventing team last summer, is understood to be just over three months pregnant.
She married Mike Tindall, 34, the England rugby player, in July 2011.
Her parents, Princess Anne and Capt Mark Phillips, and Tindall's parents Philip and Linda are said to be "delighted" with the news.
Despite her pregnancy, Miss Phillips, 32, who uses her maiden name when competing, has continued to take part in equestrian events. Last week, she came off her horse
at the Barbury Horse Trials near Swindon, Wilts, but was described as "fine" by her spokesman.
She will carry on competing for a while longer, her spokesman said, and she is due at three events later this month, with rides on six horses. However, Her baby will be 16th in line to the throne and will be the Queen's fourth great-grandchild. Peter Phillips has two children with his wife, Autumn, and the Duchess of Cambridge is due to give birth soon.
A statement from Buckingham Palace said: "Mr and Mrs Mike Tindall are very pleased to announce that Zara Tindall is expecting a baby in the New Year. The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips, Mr Phillip and Mrs Linda Tindall, and members of both families are delighted with the news.
"This baby will be the first child for Mike and Zara and the third grandchild for the Princess Royal."
Peter Phillips said: "Everyone is delighted, really, really happy for everyone and for both of them." He said he was looking forward to having his niece or nephew round to play with his children, Savannah, three, and one-year-old Isla. "We had cousins growing up so it's always nice to have family, to have cousins to play with. It's fantastic," he said. David Cameron's spokesman said it was "terrific news" that the couple were expecting, and that the Prime Minister would be sending his best wishes to them personally.
A spokesman for Miss Phillips said: "She will definitely be back in the saddle soon. If she pulls out of an event it will be because the horse isn't ready, rather than her." However, the British team for the European eventing chamionships, announced hours after Buckingham Palace had confirmed the pregnancy, does not include Miss Phillips. The event takes place at the end of August, suggesting she has decided to finish competing by then.
