Zara Phillips to wed Mike Tindall

The Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips has got engaged to long-term boyfriend Mike Tindall, Buckingham Palace said today.

Mr Tindall proposed to his partner last night at their Gloucestershire home and the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are said to be "delighted" by the news, a Palace spokeswoman said.

A Buckingham Palace statement said: "The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Zara Phillips to Mr Mike Tindall, son of Mr Phillip and Mrs Linda Tindall."

The couple started dating in 2003 and moved in together last year after buying an £800,000 home in Gloucestershire.

Speculation has been rife the pair were ready to tie the knot after rugby player Mike, 30, said in an interview earlier this year: "I don't think it is about whether we will get married, but when.

"There is no doubt that I love Zara, but it has to be the right time.

"I'm quite a traditional guy, so I'll be doing it the usual way round, marriage and then children."

The news comes just weeks after Prince William and Kate Middleton announced they would marry on April 29 at Westminster Abbey.