Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall want a Royal baby...sporting commitments permittingPA

While we're all waiting for Kate and Wills baby news, it seems another Royal couple could beat them to the pitter patter of tiny feet at the palace.

Rugby star Mike Tindall has revealed he and wife, eventing champion Zara Phillips, who is the Queen's granddaughter, will be starting a family sometime soon, but only when their sporting schedules allow it.

"Obviously we're going to have a family. But it's about timing. It's the Olympics this year, the Europeans next year, the World Championships the year after for her," Mike told the Mirror.

"I want to play for another two years, so it's just where we find the balance in that. I wouldn't say we'll wait, we'll try and find a window.

"There is definitely a family in the future but it's hard at the moment with work, as it is for a lot of people out there."

Mike also added the he and Zara love spending time with her brother Peter's daughters, Savannah and Isla. "We see Peter and Autumn's children Savannah and Isla all the time, they're great," gushed Mike.

"I think I'm good with them, we're both good with them. Savannah's a little girl now, she runs around and she's fully grown up."

Excellent news, Mike. Now, if you could just have a word with the Duke and Duchess...

Royal reads

  • <p> <strong>The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 &frac34; by Sue Townsend <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Diary-Adrian-Mole-Aged/dp/0141046422/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1335863997&amp;sr=1-1-catcorr" target="_blank">(Penguin)</a></strong></p>
  • <p> <strong>George and Flora's Big Party by Jo Elworthy and Ley Honor Roberts <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/George-Floras-Joanna-Elizabeth-Elworthy/dp/190581187X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1335864043&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">(Eden Project Children's Books)</a></strong></p>
  • <p> <strong>Horrible Histories: 20<sup>th</sup> Century by Terry Deary </strong><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Twentieth-Century-Horrible-Histories-Special/dp/1407111922/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1335863893&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank"><strong>(Scholastic)</strong></a></p>
  • <p> <strong>The Usborne History of Britain: Kings &amp; Queens (Diamond Jubilee edition) illustrated by Ian McNee <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kings-Queens-Usborne-History-Britain/dp/140954589X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1335863912&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">(Usborne)</a></strong></p>
  • <p> <strong>J.Smith by Fougasse <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/J-Smith-Fougasse/dp/1406337935/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1335863945&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">(Walker)</a></strong></p>
  • <p> <strong>Me, the Queen and Christopher by Giles Andreae and Tony Ross <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Me-Queen-Christopher-Giles-Andreae/dp/1408320053/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1335863929&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">(Orchard)</a></strong></p>
  • <p> <strong>Elizabeth II's Reign by Jacqui Bailey <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elizabeth-IIs-Reign-Celebrating-Britains/dp/1445107023/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1335864027&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">(Franklin Watts)</a></strong></p>
  • <p> <strong>The Queen's Knickers by Nicholas Allan <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Queens-Knickers-Nicholas-Allan/dp/0099413140/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1335863873&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank">(Red Fox)</a></strong></p>
  • <p> <strong>The Story of London Sticker Book <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Story-London-Sticker-Lloyd-Jones/dp/140953295X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1335864013&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">(Usborne)</a></strong></p>
  • <p> <strong>Peppa Meets the Queen <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Peppa-Pig-Meets-Queen/dp/1409313204/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1335863962&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">(Ladybird)</a></strong></p>