Zara Tindall has given birth to a baby girl

A Buckingham Palace statement explained: "Mrs Michael Tindall was safely delivered of a baby girl on 18th June, at Stroud Maternity Unit. Mr Tindall was present at the birth. The weight of the baby was 9lbs 3oz.

"The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Mike’s parents, Mr Philip and Mrs Linda Tindall, have been informed and are delighted with the news. The baby’s name will be confirmed in due course."

Zara opted to give birth at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, which is close to her home and is also where she welcomed her first child - four-year-old daughter Mia - into the world in 2014.

The British royal suffered a miscarriage in late 2016, and Mike subsequently admitted that Mia was their "saving grace" throughout their heartbreak.

He explained: "One thing you do learn is how many other people have to go through the same thing. The saving grace for us has been Mia, our daughter who is now three. However down we feel she will come running up in our faces.

"When I was playing [rugby] I hardly saw her; now we can see her grow up. I can take her swimming and I can take her to Ninja Tots. You'll never be able to see her there because she disappears in a puff of smoke."

Meanwhile, Zara previously admitted that she'd like to see her children follow in the footsteps of their sporting parents.

She shared: "We have always had sport in our lives and through our childhood. I think that really is important in every child's life to have that opportunity.

"I think we got it off our parents and hopefully we can pass that on to Mia."