Zara Phillips, Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter, is pregnant and will have her first baby in the New Year, Buckingham Palace has announced. 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.

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Despite her pregnancy, 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 spokesperson 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, Phillip and 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 spokesperson 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 spokesperson for 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 Phillips. The event takes place at the end of August, suggesting she has decided to finish competing by then.

Britain's Mary King, who won six team gold medals at the world eventing championships, competed until she was five and a half months pregnant. She said her doctor had told her that the "most dangerous" time was in the first six weeks, when a heavy fall could cause a miscarriage, but "after that it's much safer".

Phillips is next due to compete at the Brightling Park International Horse Trials in East Sussex on July 13, and is also entered in trials in Northants on July 19, and Bedfordshire on July 27. --- Parents of babies born this month are delaying deciding on names until they know what the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen.

A survey by netvouchercodes.co.uk found that one in 10 new mothers is waiting because they either want to give their child the same name as the royal baby, or want to avoid choosing the same one.