Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter Zara Tindall is pregnant with her third child. Her husband Mike announced the happy news on his podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby on Wednesday.
The former England rugby captain, 42, told his co-hosts, “It’s been a good week for me, had a little scan last week. Third Tindall on its way.”
Mike went on to say he was hoping for a boy as he already has two daughters: six-year-old Mia and two-year-old Lena.
“We’re not sure what to do,” he said. “I’d like a boy this time. I’ve got two girls. I would like a boy, but I will love it … whether it’s a boy or a girl – but please be a boy.”
News.com.au reports a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the Queen and Prince Philip are aware of the news and are “delighted”. The baby will be the Queen’s 10th great-grandchild – after Princess Eugenie announced her pregnancy in September.
Meanwhile, Mike also joked about naming the baby after Covid-19, humorously adding, “We’re not sure what to do … Covi or Covina … I don’t know where to go with names.”
The rugby ace also addressed Zara’s past miscarriages, saying that his wife is doing well and feeling positive. The Queen’s eldest granddaughter suffered two miscarriages after the birth of her first daughter.
“[Zara] is very good, always careful because of things that have happened in the past, and [she’s] really looking forward to it,” he said.
Zara opened up about having suffered the miscarriages in a 2018 interview with The Sunday Times, revealing, “In our case, it was something that was really rare. It was nature saying, ‘This one’s not right.’ I had to go through having the baby because it was so far along.”
And it looks like 2021 is going to be a busy year for royal babies, with Princess Eugenie expecting her first child with husband Jack Brooksbank early next year. Taking to Instagram at the time of the announcement, the princess posted a picture of small bear booties, with the caption, “Jack and I are so excited for early 2021.”