London: Christmas may be a more subdued affair for the British royal family after news that the Queen's granddaughter Zara Tindall and her husband, Mike, have lost their baby.
Equestrian champion Zara and former England rugby player Tindall announced at the end of November they were expecting their second child. Their first born, Mia, will be three in January.
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However a spokeswoman for the couple released a statement on their behalf on Christmas Eve, confirming the miscarriage.
"Very sadly, Zara and Mike Tindall have lost their baby," she said. "At this difficult time, we ask that everyone respects their privacy."
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The spokeswoman f would not give any details about the circumstances surrounding the loss of the baby, but it is understood the Queen's granddaughter is not in any medical danger.
The baby would have been the Queen's sixth great-grandchild.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on what it said was a private matter.
It is likely that Zara will spend Christmas convalescing at the couples home on Gatcombe Park country estate in Gloucestershire, the residence of her mother, the Princess Royal.
Zara missed out on the Rio Olympics this year after she failed to make the British Equestrian Federation's nominated rider list.
The thoughts of everyone at Gloucester Rugby are with our former Club Captain Mike Tindall and wife Zara today. Truly awful news.
— Gloucester Rugby (@gloucesterrugby) 24 décembre 2016
Illness has already overshadowed royal Christmas celebrations with the Queen and her husband Prince Philip delaying their Christmas travel plans due to heavy colds.
The Countess of Wessex also lost a baby – her first – in December 2001 when she was airlifted to hospital after suffering a potentially life-threatening ectopic pregnancy. Sophie subsequently underwent a two-and-a-half-hour operation.
PA, AAP