Zara Phillips
Zara Phillips Reuters

Zara Phillips and husband former England rugby captain Mike Tindall have welcomed a baby girl.

The 32-year-old Olympic silver medallist's baby, the Queen's fourth great grandchild becomes 16th in line to the throne.

"Mrs Mike Tindall today safely delivered a baby girl at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. Mr Mike Tindall was present at the birth. The weight of the baby was 7lbs 12oz," the royal statement read.

"The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Mike's parents, Mr Phillip and Mrs Linda Tindall, have been informed and are delighted with the news. The baby's name will be confirmed in due course," the note continued. "This baby is the first child for Zara and Mike, the third grandchild for The Princess Royal and the fourth great-grandchild for The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, and is 16th line to the Throne."

Prime Minister David Cameron was among the first to wish the new parents.

"He passes on his many congratulations to the happy couple and to Her Majesty the Queen," his official spokesman said.

Phillips, who is the only daughter and second child of Princess Anne and Tindall met during the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. The pair later married at Canangate Kirk in Scotland in 2011.

The palace announced her pregnancy last year in July, as the media gathered outside St Mary's Hospital waiting for Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge to go into labour.