The Queen's granddaughter Zara Tindall and her husband Mike have suffered Christmas heartbreak after it was revealed the couple had lost their baby.
The equestrian champion and former England rugby star announced last month they were expecting their second child but it emerged Mrs Tindall suffered a miscarriage.
On Saturday 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 spokeswoman would not give any details about the circumstances surrounding the loss of the couple's baby but it is understood Zara is not in any medical danger.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the private matter.
Zara and Mike already have a daughter Mia, who is nearly three and were said to be thrilled about the prospect of another child.
The baby was due around late spring and would have been the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's sixth great-grandchild.
The family live on the Princess Royal's Gatcombe Park country estate in Gloucestershire.
Zara missed out on the Rio Olympics this year after she failed to make the British Equestrian Federation's nominated rider list.
The former world eventing champion helped the Great Britain team win a silver medal at London 2012 and had been hoping to bring back a gold from Brazil.
