Royal baby tragedy for Queen's granddaughter

The Queen's granddaughter Zara Tindall and her husband Mike have lost their baby, a spokeswoman for the couple said.

Equestrian champion Mrs Tindall and former England rugby player Tindall revealed at the end of November that they were expecting their second child, the UK Telegraph reports.

But on Saturday it was announced they had lost their baby.

A spokeswoman for the couple said: "Very sadly, Zara and Mike Tindall have lost their baby. At this difficult time, we ask that everyone respects their privacy."

The baby, due around late March, would have been the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's sixth great grandchild.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the private matter.

The couple had been expected to spend Christmas with the Queen at Sandringham.

But now Mrs Tindall is expected to spend Christmas convalescing with her family at their home on Gatcombe Park country estate in Gloucestershire, in south western England.