London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Feb 09, 2026

William and Kate take part in spin class on south Wales visit

William and Kate take part in spin class on south Wales visit

The Prince and Princess of Wales went head-to-head in a race during a spin class at a leisure centre.

Catherine was awarded a golden trophy after beating Prince William during a visit to Aberavon Leisure and Fitness Centre in Port Talbot.

"Not sure I am dressed for this," said the princess, who was wearing a cream top, checked skirt and black boots.

They also launched a series of therapy gardens and allotments during a visit to south Wales on Tuesday.

The initiative at Brynawel Rehabilitation Centre, near Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, is intended to provide mental health support and is working with Life at No.27, a horticultural therapy and mental health counselling provider.

Later, the royal couple took part in a virtual endurance challenge to see who could ride the furthest in just 45 seconds uphill in the Italian Dolomites.

On entering the room, Prince William apologised to cyclists and said: "Sorry for ruining your spin class."

Kate was presented with a trophy dubbed the Tour de Aberavon


Before climbing on to his bike, the prince joked to the princess: "You have got high heels on."

She adjusted the gears during the race and laughed: "Can I make it harder?"

After finishing, Prince William, who was breathing deeply, joked: "Talk to you in a minute."

Catherine was presented with a trophy dubbed the Tour de Aberavon.

The Princess of Wales was invited to plant some seeds at the centre near Pontyclun


On a visit to a garden at Brynawel Rehabilitation Centre, the prince laughed as he spotted some Sweet William seeds on a label.

Volunteer gardener Vanessa Townsend helped Catherine to sow the seeds, telling her: "They will flower in two years, I'll make sure you get some."

The princess was presented with a bunch of daffodils by two-year-old Cora Phillips.

Cora's mother Michelle Phillips, from Llanharan, said: "Oh my goodness, I did not expect that in a million years."

The Princess of Wales was given a bunch of daffodils by two-year-old Cora Phillips


The royal couple were also greeted by a Great Dane therapy dog called Ragnar.

Annabelle Padwick, founder of Life at No.27, said gardens were vital in offering a safe environment for those facing mental health difficulties.

"As the founder I have seen first-hand how working with therapy gardens can dramatically improve self-belief and your own mental health," she said.

The Princess of Wales arriving at the Aberavon leisure and fitness centre in Port Talbot


The Brynawel Rehabilitation Centre is a residential site for the treatment of alcohol and drug dependencies.

Residents from the wider community, who are experiencing mental ill health, low confidence or isolation, will also eventually be given access to the garden through GP referrals.

The prince and princess later visited the Welsh Air Ambulance base in Llanelli.

Sienna David, 12, from Aberavon Lifesaving in Port Talbot give flowers to the Princess of Wales


The charity celebrates its 22nd birthday on Wednesday.

Prince William spoke to the High Sheriff of Dyfed Rowland Rees-Evans, greeting him with the Welsh phrases for "good morning" and "how are you?"

Crowds of people came out in Port Talbot to see William and Kate


"I have been saying bore da and shwmae all day. I'm working on my repertoire," he told Mr Rees-Evans.

The prince and princess also visited the Welsh Air Ambulance base in Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, where they met the wife and children of a man who died in a road traffic accident.

The Princess of Wales met air ambulance crew based at Llanelli


They spoke with Laura Davies and her two children Sofia, nine, and Owen, 11, in a private meeting in the charity's new family room, which was created after the tragedy.

She said: "Arwel was a really, really special person and to have a room like this named in Arwel's memory, and for it to be recognised by Prince William and Princess Catherine, is a testament to the special person he was.

"This means a huge amount to the children, it's a lasting legacy for them as to how special daddy was."

The royal couple visited south Wales the day before St Davids Day


Amanda Berry, chief executive of The Royal Foundation, said: "Their Royal Highnesses are passionate about creating a lasting impact in the communities they visit, playing an instrumental role in bringing together local stakeholders to amplify the work of organisations, and ensure support reaches those who need it most.

"Their Royal Highnesses continue to prioritise our society's mental health and spending time in nature is known to have a range of benefits, including reducing depression and anxiety."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
China and UK Signal Tentative Reset with Commitment to Steadier, Professionally Managed Relations
UK Confirms Imminent Increase in ETA Fee to £20 as Entry Rules Tighten
UK Signals Possible Seizure of Russia-Linked ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker in Escalation of Sanctions Enforcement
Epstein Scandal Piles Unprecedented Pressure on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Leadership
UK’s ‘Most Romantic Village’ Celebrates Valentine’s Day and Explores the Festival’s Rich History
The Implications of Expanding Voting Rights to Non-EU Foreign Residents in France
Ghislaine Maxwell to Testify Before US Congress on February 9
Al.com Acquired by Crypto.com Founder for $70 Million
Apple iPhone Lockdown Mode blocks FBI data access in journalist device seizure
Belgium: Man Charged with Rape After Faking Payment to Sex Worker
KPMG Urges Auditor to Relay AI Cost Savings
US and Iran to Begin Nuclear Talks in Oman
Winklevoss-Led Gemini to Slash a Quarter of Jobs and Exit European and Australian Markets
Canada Opens First Consulate in Greenland Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions
China unveils plans for a 'Death Star' capable of launching missile strikes from space
NASA allows astronauts to take smartphones on upcoming missions to capture special moments.
Trump administration to launch TrumpRx.gov for direct drug purchases
Investigation Launched at Winter Olympics Over Ski Jumpers Injecting Hyaluronic Acid
U.S. State Department Issues Urgent Travel Warning for Citizens to Leave Iran Immediately
Wall Street Erases All Gains of 2026; Bitcoin Plummets 14% to $63,000
Epstein Case Documents Reignite Global Scrutiny of Political and Business Elites
Eighty-one-year-old man in the United States fatally shoots Uber driver after scam threat
UK Royal Family Faces Intensifying Strain as Epstein-Linked Revelations Rock the Institution
Political Censorship: French Prosecutors Raid Musk’s X Offices in Paris
AI Invented “Hot Springs” — Tourists Arrived and Were Shocked
Tech Mega-Donors Power Trump-Aligned Fundraising Surge to $429 Million Ahead of 2026 Midterms
UK Pharma Watchdog Rules Sanofi Breached Industry Code With RSV Vaccine Claims Against Pfizer
Melania Documentary Opens Modestly in UK with Mixed Global Box Office Performance
Starmer Arrives in Shanghai to Promote British Trade and Investment
Harry Styles, Anthony Joshua and Premier League Stars Among UK’s Top Taxpayers
New Epstein Files Include Images of Former Prince Andrew Kneeling Over Unidentified Woman
Starmer Urges Former Prince Andrew to Testify Before US Congress About Epstein Ties
Starmer Extends Invitation to Japan’s Prime Minister After Strategic Tokyo Talks
Skupski and Harrison Clinch Australian Open Men’s Doubles Title in Melbourne
DOJ Unveils Millions of Epstein Files, Fueling Global Scrutiny of Elite Networks
France Begins Phasing Out Zoom and Microsoft Teams to Advance Digital Sovereignty
China Lifts Sanctions on British MPs and Peers After Starmer Xi Talks in Beijing
Trump Nominates Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair to Reorient U.S. Monetary Policy Toward Pro-Growth Interest Rates
AstraZeneca Announces £11bn China Investment After Scaling Back UK Expansion Plans
Starmer and Xi Forge Warming UK-China Ties in Beijing Amid Strategic Reset
Tech Market Shifts and AI Investment Surge Drive Global Innovation and Layoffs
Markets Jolt as AI Spending, US Policy Shifts, and Global Security Moves Drive New Volatility
U.S. Signals Potential Decertification of Canadian Aircraft as Bilateral Tensions Escalate
Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee Sentenced to 20 Months for Bribery
Tesla Ends Model S and X Production and Sends $2 Billion to xAI as 2025 Revenue Declines
China Executes 11 Members of the Ming Clan in Cross-Border Scam Case Linked to Myanmar’s Lawkai
Trump Administration Officials Held Talks With Group Advocating Alberta’s Independence
Starmer Signals UK Push for a More ‘Sophisticated’ Relationship With China in Talks With Xi
Shopping Chatbots Move From Advice to Checkout as Walmart Pushes Faster Than Amazon
Starmer Seeks Economic Gains From China Visit While Navigating US Diplomatic Sensitivities
×