It’s been a horrible road... Zara reveals miscarriage agony
‘I have a very supportive family’
ZARA Tindall has opened up about the heartbreak of suffering two miscarriages, revealing how her husband was also left feeling ‘helpless’.
The Queen’s granddaughter lost a baby in the days before Christmas 2016 at around four months into her pregnancy.
And in July this year, the Olympic equestrian medallist revealed she had suffered a second miscarriage ‘really early on’ – prior to becoming pregnant with her daughter Lena, who was born in June.
The 37-year-old, who has another daughter Mia, four, with former rugby player Mike Tindall, was close to tears as she spoke about their anguish on BBC Breakfast.
She said yesterday: ‘It’s hard for the guys too. It’s very different for us because we’re carrying the child.
‘But for guys I guess it’s kind of that helpless feeling, which must be incredibly high and horrible for them.
‘At the end of the day they’ve still lost a child too. Being helpless is horrible, isn’t it, for anyone.’
Mrs Tindall, who is the daughter of Princess Anne but does not carry a royal title, added: ‘It’s been a horrible road, but, you know, actually, now we’ve come out the end of it and hopefully it makes you stronger as a family.’
The Olympian, who was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2006, paid tribute to her supportive husband and family. She said: ‘I think that’s the hardest thing in our situation, is that everyone knew. And very much when things like that happen, normally it’s just your family and friends, but unfortunately everyone knew.
‘Actually I had so many letters saying “I’m so sorry, we’ve been through the same thing”, which was incredible – and thank you to all those people.
‘But it just showed how often it does happen and I have a very supportive family. Mike’s incredible.’ Mrs Tindall, who mar- ried the former England rugby player in 2011, appeared on the programme to speak about riding horses again just three months after the birth of her second child.
The interview came as baby Lena was spotted for the first time in public yesterday, wrapped up in a blue babygrow as her mother competed at international horse trials in Gatcombe Park – Princess Anne’s Gloucestershire home.
Mrs Tindall also recounted attending her cousin Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan in May while eight months pregnant. She said: ‘I was so uncomfortable, so uncomfortable, and obviously when they build churches they don’t think of pregnant women.’ Asked if it was a hard bench, she said: ‘It was really narrow as well. I was perched and trying to get comfy. It was very uncomfortable and she was quite active through the whole service. She was kicking a lot.’
The accomplished equestrian won the 2006 eventing world championships and a silver medal for Britain at the London 2012 Olympics. Mike Tindall was a member of England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning side.