London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Feb 22, 2025

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
Good News: Senate Confirms Kash Patel as FBI Director
Officials from the U.S. and Hungary Engage in Talks on Economic Collaboration and Sanctions Strategy
James Bond Franchise Transitions to Amazon MGM Studios
Technology Giants Ramp Up Lobbying Initiatives Against Strict EU Regulations
Alibaba Exceeds Quarterly Projections Fueled by Growth in Cloud and AI
Tequila Sector Faces Surplus Crisis as Agave Prices Dive Sharply
Residents of Flintshire Mobile Home Park Grapple with Maintenance Issues and Uncertain Future
Ronan Keating Criticizes Irish Justice System Following Fatal Crash Involving His Brother
Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat Restaurant Faces Unprecedented Theft
Israeli Family Mourns Loss of Peace Advocate Oded Lifschitz as Body Returned from Gaza
Former UK Defense Chief Calls for Enhanced European Support for Ukraine
Pope Francis Admitted to Hospital in Rome Amid Rising Succession Speculation
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, at the age of 83, Declares His Retirement.
Whistleblower Reveals Whitehall’s Focus on Kabul Animal Airlift Amid Crisis
Politicians Who Deliberately Lie Could Face Removal from Office in Wales
Scottish Labour Faces Challenges Ahead of 2026 Holyrood Elections
Leftwing Activists Less Likely to Work with Political Rivals, Study Finds
Boris Johnson to Host 'An Evening with Boris Johnson' at Edinburgh's Usher Hall
Planned Change in British Citizenship Rules Faces First Legal Challenge
Northumberland Postal Worker Sentenced for Sexual Assaults During Deliveries
British Journalist Missing in Brazil for 11 Days
Tesco Fixes Website Glitch That Disrupted Online Grocery Orders
Amnesty International Critiques UK's Predictive Policing Practices
Burglar Jailed After Falling into Home-Made Trap in Blyth
Sellafield Nuclear Site Exits Special Measures for Physical Security Amid Ongoing Cybersecurity Concerns
Avian Influenza Impact on Seals in Norfolk: Four Deaths Confirmed
First Arrest Under Scotland's Abortion Clinic Buffer Zone Law Amidst International Controversy
Meghan Markle Rebrands Lifestyle Venture as 'As Ever' Ahead of Netflix Series Launch
Inter-Island Ferry Services Between Guernsey and Jersey Set to Expand
Significant Proportion of Cancer Patients in England and Wales Not Receiving Recommended Treatments
Final Consultation Launched for Vyrnwy Frankton Power Line Project
Drug Misuse Deaths in Scotland Rise by 12% in 2023
Failed £100 Million Cocaine Smuggling Operation in the Scottish Highlands
Central Cee Equals MOBO Awards Record; Bashy and Ayra Starr Among Top Honorees
EastEnders: Four Decades of Challenging Social Norms
Jonathan Bailey Channels 'Succession' in Bold Richard II Performance
Northern Ireland's First Astronaut Engages in Rigorous Spacewalk Training
Former Postman Sentenced for Series of Sexual Offences in Northumberland
Record Surge in Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes Across the UK in 2024
Omagh Bombing Inquiry Concludes Commemorative Hearings with Survivor Testimonies
UK Government Introduces 'Ronan's Law' to Combat Online Knife Sales to Minors
Metal Detectorists Unearth 15th-Century Coin Hoard in Scottish Borders
Woman Charged in 1978 Death of Five-Year-Old Girl in South London
Expanding Sinkhole in Godstone, Surrey, Forces Evacuations and Road Closures
Bangor University Announces Plans to Cut 200 Jobs Amid £15 Million Savings Target
British Journalist Charlotte Peet Reported Missing in Brazil
UK Inflation Rises to 3% in January Amid Higher Food Prices and School Fees
Starmer Defends Zelensky Amidst Trump's 'Dictator' Allegation
Zelensky Calls on World Leaders to Back Peace Efforts in Light of Strains with Trump
UK Prime minister, Mr. Keir Starmer, has stated that any peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine "MUST" include a US security guarantee to deter Russian aggression
×