Zara Phillips and a VERY active pregnancy: Royal proves there was no need to slow down as she gives birth to baby girl

Zara Phillips gave birth to a 7lbs 12oz baby girl at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in the early hours of this morning, with her husband and former England rugby player Mike Tindall present at the birth.
In typically energetic style, she has already left hospital and is back at home with her family.
Early on in her pregnancy the Olympian admitted: 'I have been a bit bored. I'm used to being on the go and active the whole time, and now it's quite different. So, yes, I'm baking. I love cooking and will definitely cook for the baby.'
However, it hasn't all been flapjacks and fondant fancies: the Queen's sporty granddaughter has refused to let pregnancy slow her down too much...

The 32-year-old attended the Heythrop Hunt point-to-point races in Gloucestershire just a few days ago

Continuing the very active manner in which she has approached her pregnancy, the Queen's granddaughter was still out and about just a couple of days before she was due to give birth

Zara has kept remarkably active during her pregnancy, here standing on a car boot ledge to get a better view at Cottenham point-to-point races in Cambridgeshire on December 30

Just two weeks from giving birth at the time, the Olympian was wrapped up against the cold in a brown padded jacket which had a fur-lined hood

She's attended various country point-to-points - one in Cambridgeshire on Sunday - and the races at Cheltenham in the last month.
She's dressed up for black tie events, such as the British Olympic Ball and the reunion of the 2004 Rugby Union World Cup-winning squad in November, while heavily pregnant.
In fact, Zara's sense of style appears to have blossomed along with her bump during the last nine months.
She dazzled onlookers at Sandringham in a bright red jacket and matching hat trimmed with jaunty feathers and a black MUlberry ckutch at the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the vast Norfolk estate.
The professional three-day eventer was pictured early in her pregnancy taking part in a show jumping event and even playing polo, but gave up competing in her fifth month and has since been channelling her energy into helping a race horse part-owned by her husband become a champion. 

Archive: A glowing Zara a few weeks before giving birth

Zara looked blooming lovely as she joined fellow Royals for the family's annual Christmas Day church service at Sandringham

At eight months pregnant, Zara swathed her impressive bump in a bright red jacket and matching hat for the service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the vast Norfolk estate

Prior to the service, Zara appeared to have put comfort first as she paired a warm black winter coat with a pair of knee-high brown stretchy boots

In December, the horse, Monbeg Dude, won the Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Steeple Chase at Cheltenham.
Miss Phillips, who won silver at the London Olympics as part of the British three-day eventing team, said she has stopped riding not because she had been criticised for it but because it had become too difficult in the fifth month of her pregnancy.
She said: ‘It’s so uncomfortable. So now I’m just on the ground yelling at everyone.’ But she added that she will back on her horse as soon as possible after the birth.

Equestrian Zara didn't let being eight months pregnant stop her attending the Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Steeple Chase, where a horse part-owned by her husband Mike Tindall won

The Queen's granddaughter, pictured here with her husband, wrapped up in a £49.99 coat to attend the races at Cheltenham on December 13

At seven months pregnant, Zara showed no signs of slowing down as she watched her husband Mike Tindall's horse Monbeg Dude come fourth in the Murphy Group Handicap Chase in November

The couple revealed that Zara's pregnancy came as a complete ‘shock’ to her – disrupting her eventing schedule and forcing her out of the saddle.
Speaking to an Australian Women’s Weekly in October, Mike said: ‘It probably happened quicker than we thought – bit of a shock, really.’
But he admitted that once the surprise had worn off, they realised the timing was perfect.
Zara says she will be back in the saddle straight after the birth. She even hopes to compete in the World Eventing Championship in August and will take her baby with her on the eventing circuit – which is what her mother Princess Anne did after Zara was born.

The 32-year-old royal showed off her growing bump in a clinging black dress as she attended the reunion of the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup winning squad at the start of November

Zara attended the rugby event with her husband, her second red carpet event in a single week

Zara Phillips arrives at the British Olympic Ball held at The Dorchester at the end of October, days before attending another glamorous black tie event

Typically, Zara and Mike Tindall have appeared very laid-back during the pregnancy.
Mike revealed the couple didn't want to know the sex of their baby before the birth.
Mr Tindall said in October: ‘We want it to be a surprise. I’m really looking forward to it, but I’m not sure how I’ve prepared. We’ve been pretty relaxed.
‘We’ve not sorted a nursery yet. We have ordered some stuff, but we haven’t gone further than that.
‘I think we’re both quite well-balanced as a couple, so hopefully he or she will pick up on that. I’m a big kid, so I naturally fit right in.’
Zara added: ‘I hope we’re going to make good parents – that’s the plan.’

Zara, who was the only member of the royal family to be godparent, attending Prince George's christening in October in a chic navy blue ensemble

Zara Phillips arrives for the Boodles Boxing Ball at the Grosvenor House Hotel in a flowing blue and purple dress on 21 September

Zara looked radiant when she visited the Stroud Maternity Unit in Gloucestershire for its 60th Birthday Celebration in September

Zara, pictured with husband Mike and pilot Tracey Curtis-Taylor next to the Spirit of Artemis, attended the Goodwood Revival Festival in September, wearing a 1920s-style monochrome dress for the event, which celebrates vintage vehicles

Zara riding at the Dressage Guinea Pig Test at Gatcombe Horse Trials in August, where a slight profile of her growing baby bump was just visible

The Queen's granddaughter looked radiant in a flattering bright yellow dress, which she accessorised with nude heels and a black Mulberry clutch bag at Goodwood race course in Chichester in August

Zara raised eyebrows when she played in a charity polo match at The Rundle Cup at Tidworth Polo Club at three months pregnant, in July 2013

News that Zara, the Queen's eldest granddaughter, was pregnant was announced by Buckingham Palace in July as the nation awaited the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's baby