London, Jul 9 (IANS): Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will soon become a great-grandmother. The wife of her eldest grandson Peter is expecting.

The queen's first great-grandchild is expected to be born in December 2010, to Autumn Phillips, the Canadian wife of her eldest grandson Peter.

Peter, 32, is the son of Princess Anne, the queen's only daughter, and Mark Phillips.

The queen, who at age 84 has eight grandchildren, was delighted by the news.

"Peter and Autumn Phillips are delighted to confirm they are expecting a baby in December. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, as well as Autumn's family, have been informed and are delighted with the news," Herald Sun reported citing a statement from the Buckingham Palace.

The couple, who now live in Hong Kong, created a controversy when they sold the photography rights for their wedding two years ago to a British magazine. They were paid around 500,000 pounds for the exclusive deal.

Peter Phillips, who does not use a royal title, works for the Royal Bank of Scotland and is 11th in line to the throne.