If you’re heading off on holiday soon, you might already have your passport, chargers, and mini toiletries on your packing list. But there’s one final addition you don’t want to forget: a tennis ball.

No, not so you can ward off boredom by playing a game of catch with your aisle mates – it’s actually all to do with avoiding stiffness or aches while in the air. And it certainly won’t take up too much space in your bag, either.

It can also be used to enhance circulation, intended to be used by gently applying pressure and rolling it up and down the thighs, legs, or even shoulders, according to health experts.

Registered osteopath and qualified sleep therapist Tracy Hannigan previously debunked a few viral travel tips as part of a partnership with travel insurance specialist InsureandGo – and recommended using a tennis ball in tandem with another teeny piece of paraphernalia.

She explained: ‘A great tip is to find a hand towel, put the ball in the middle of it and roll it like a sausage.

‘When you then apply pressure using the ball, it’s easier to position and will prevent it from skidding out of position, which can be painful.

‘A tennis ball is small and light and can help you to apply soothing pressure to points you might otherwise not be able to reach.’

She also recommended stretching regularly to help with stiffness, noting that the side of the neck can be extended by ‘turning the chin towards the armpit and gently applying pressure to stretch the opposite side of the neck.’

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‘You can even stretch your lower back in your plane seat, by crossing your legs and leaning forward, as if you’re trying to reach down to the crossed-over foot with your elbow,’ she added.

In a bid to enjoy a slightly comfier long-haul flight, travel aficionados have also got on board with this hack. Posting over in the r/TravelHacks Subreddit, @tmckhar swears by it.

They penned: ‘Place it at the base of your spine near your tailbone. I do this when driving long period, and it helps with back pain.’

@CrapSandwich added: ‘I have a slipped disc in my lower back that tends to go out on long flights. The tennis ball between the seatback and my lower back really helps.’

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This isn’t the first slightly left-field piece of travel advice we’ve seen over the years.

Esther Sturrus, who works for Dutch airline KLM and shares TikToks about her journeys, previously recommended always throwing a water bottle under the bed when you get into a hotel room.

Although unlikely, tourists can be targeted by thieves or intruders, with some travellers choosing to be vigilant in certain countries or in rooms on lower floors.

According to Esther, her hack lets you ‘check that no one is under the bed without looking’, easing your mind if you’re wary.

She advised rolling the bottle under the bed, adding in her video that it ‘has to come out on the other side’. If it doesn’t, you may want to exercise caution.

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Metro puts the ‘tennis ball’ tip to the test

Metro‘s Maria Astardjieva recently flew long-haul from London to San Francisco – and packed a tennis ball in her carry-on luggage to see if it would help with mid-flight aches and pains.

She says of her experience: ‘I’ve seen countless tips promising to make long-haul flights more bearable. But one suggestion kept cropping up: pack a tennis ball.

‘It’s cheap, weighs next to nothing, and, crucially, takes up barely any space.

‘I started by positioning the ball at the base of my spine, just above my tailbone – the epicentre of that dull ache that seems to appear the moment you start approaching your 30s.

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‘Leaning back into the seat, I applied gentle pressure and slowly shifted my weight. Almost instantly, I felt relief…’

Read the full story here

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This article was last published on April 24, 2026.

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However, a three-way battle to sign Morgan Rogers has emerged with Chelsea and Man United said to be interested in the England international, who could cost up to £100million. Man Utd, though, have made a double announcement this week, while also striking an agreement with Atalanta for midfielder Ederson. Spurs, meanwhile, have completed their first signing of the summer with Andy Robertson arriving on a free transfer and he could soon be joined in north London by Marcos Senesi and Savinho.

Most Brits don’t eat enough to lower the risk of heart disease, cancer and autoimmune conditions

A leading health expert has claimed there is a food group that lowers the risk of “virtually every disease”, which people across Britain are failing to eat enough of daily. Professor Tim Spector believes we should all be eating considerably more fibre.

Dietary fibre, more commonly referred to as roughage, is the indigestible component found in plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains and pulses. Passing through the stomach, small intestine and colon largely undigested, it is widely recognised for supporting digestion, gut health and regulating blood sugar levels.

Prof Spector, an epidemiologist and founder of ZOE Health, argued that increasing fibre intake could reduce the risk of heart disease, as well as your chances of developing cancer and autoimmune conditions. He spoke in detail about this on a recent episode of The Proof podcast, reports Chronicle Live.

Podcast host Simon Hill asked him: “Most people fall well short of the fibre recommendation. What’s your elevator pitch today? How do you make a case for fibre?”

Prof Spector claims that for every additional five grams of fibre eaten, you could potentially cut your risk of heart disease and stroke by up to 11%. He said: “Epidemiologically, it is the most solid data we’ve got. The more [fibre] you have, the lower your risk of virtually every disease that’s been measured.

“There doesn’t seem to be an upper limit, so that it seems to be incremental that for every five grams extra fibre you’re getting, you can reduce your early mortality from heart disease or strokes by somewhere between five and 11%, and that just keeps going up as you increase that dose.”

“You can get similar studies showing the same for cancer for mental health disease, autoimmune diseases. It seems to be really consistent and you don’t get that with any other macronutrients. Of all the things to focus on, I would say it is the most important.”

What does the research say?

A 2022 study published in BMC Medicine found that diets high in fibre reduced “all-cause mortality”. They were associated with lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood glucose concentrations.

The researchers said: “These findings emphasise the likely benefits of promoting greater dietary fibre intakes for patients with cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Further trials and cohort analyses in this area would increase confidence in these results.”

What does the NHS say?

The NHS website says that eating plenty of fibre is associated with a “lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer”. It also recommends that adults consume at least 30g of fibre each day, though most people currently achieve only around 20g.

For children, the recommended daily fibre target depends on their age. The breakdown shows:

• Children aged two to five should aim for approximately 15g of fibre
• Children aged five to 11 should aim for approximately 20g
• Teenagers aged 11 to 16 years should aim for approximately 25g

To boost your fibre intake, the NHS suggests that people could:

• Choose a higher-fibre breakfast cereal such as plain wholewheat biscuits (like Weetabix) or plain shredded whole grain (like Shredded Wheat), or porridge as oats are also a good source of fibre
• Go for wholemeal or granary breads, or higher-fibre white bread, and choose wholegrains like wholewheat pasta, bulgur wheat or brown rice
• Go for potatoes with their skins on, such as a baked potato or boiled new potatoes. Find out more about starchy foods and carbohydrates
• Add pulses like beans, lentils or chickpeas to stews, curries and salads
• Include plenty of vegetables with meals, either as a side dish or added to sauces, stews or curries. Find out more about how to get your 5 A Day
• Have some fresh or dried fruit, or fruit canned in natural juice for dessert. Because dried fruit is sticky, it can increase the risk of tooth decay, so it’s better if it is only eaten as part of a meal, rather than as a between-meal snack
• For snacks, try fresh fruit, vegetable sticks, rye crackers, oatcakes, and unsalted nuts or seeds

Despite being close as youngsters, reports suggest pair have ‘not spoken in years’ following incident at Princess Anne’s son’s first wedding in 2008

Members of the royal family are set to attend the wedding of Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips and NHS nurse Harriet Sperling later today. But his cousin Prince Harry is expected to miss the event in Gloucestershire amid reports the pair have “not spoken in years”.

Despite being close as youngsters, the Mirror reports the presence of his estranged brother Prince William and his wife Kate at the Cotswolds wedding will inevitably have played a part in Harry and wife Megan not attending. But an incident from Mr Phillips first wedding 18 years ago is also a reason for their absence.

Harry was apparently furious Mr Phillips and first wife Canadian Autumn Kelly struck a deal with Hello! magazine to sell the exclusive rights to their wedding for an estimated £500,000 – without telling the family.

He is said to have been particularly annoyed because he had taken his then girlfriend Chelsy Davy as a guest and decided this was the moment he would introduce her to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, for the first time – a sign their relationship was getting increasingly serious.

While the prince was aware that a photographer was present he thought they were for Peter and Autumn’s private collection and had no idea that they would end up in the magazine.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to make an appearance at the private ceremony at All Saints Church, Kemble, Cirencester, today, before leaving to attend the Epsom Derby horse races more than 100 miles away in Surrey.

As well as Harry and Megan missing the occasion, Peter’s uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson have also apparently been left off the guest list.

Harriet and Peter reportedly met in spring 2024 at a sporting event involving their daughters from previous relationships. Just months later, the couple made their public debut as they appeared together at the Badminton Horse Trials, where Harriet mingled with Peter’s mum, Anne, sister-in-law-to-be Zara.

Throughout the first year of their relationship, the couple were spotted together at a number of social events together, such as Wimbledon as well as Cheltenham Races. In June last year, they attended Royal Ascot together where Harriet made her debut in one of the carriages during the royal procession – with the move being seen as a significant sign of her moving into the royal fold.

On August 1 2025, the couple announced their engagement after one year of dating. A statement on behalf of the couple read: “Mr Peter Phillips, the son of HRH The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips and Ms Harriet Sperling, daughter of the late Mr Rupert Sanders and Mrs Mary Sanders of Gloucestershire, have today confirmed their official engagement. Both families were informed jointly of the announcement and were delighted with the wonderful news of their engagement.”

The Mirror has contacted Harry’s representatives for comment.

Get Daily Record Premium for just £1 per month in exclusive offer to celebrate the world cup. Click HERE.

The parents of Morgan Ridler have shared a special announcement on social media

The family of a little boy who died just days before his fourth birthday have made a special announcement. Morgan Ridler, from Swansea, died in 2023 after being diagnosed with a rare and complex form of cancer when he was just two.

Since Morgan’s death his parents Natalie and Matt have been supporting other families who face the devastating reality of childhood cancer in Morgan’s memory through their charity Morgan’s Army.

Morgan’s parents have made a special announcement on the charity’s social media page revealing they are expecting a baby.

They wrote: “After heartbreak, hope, a little help from genetic therapy and a journey we’ll never forget, our family is growing.”

Natalie and Matt said Morgan’s “little brother or sister” will grow up knowing all about Morgan and his legacy.

They added that after years of being “the very best little sister” their daughter Rhiannon is about to become an amazing “big sister too”.

The full post on the family’s social media read: “Our founders, Matt and Nat have some news to share…

“Some dreams take a little longer. After heartbreak, hope, a little help from genetic therapy and a journey we’ll never forget, our family is growing.

“Morgan, you’ll always be our first baby, our greatest teacher, and the reason we never stopped believing. Your place in our family can never be filled, and your little brother or sister will grow up knowing all about you and the incredible legacy you left behind.

“And Rhiannon, our brave, beautiful girl, after years of being the very best little sister, you’re about to become an amazing big sister too. We couldn’t be prouder of the kindness, strength and love you carry every day.

“A new chapter is beginning, but every chapter of our story will always include you, Morgan. Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever part of our family.”

The family’s heartwarming news comes after they shared that Morgan had helped to save his little sister Rhiannon’s life. He was diagnosed with the rare cancer adrenocortical carcinoma in October 2021 after his parents started noticing that he started to gain weight and was complaining of tummy pains shortly after the birth of his sister Rhiannon.

Further testing revealed that Morgan had Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, a condition caused by a mutation of the TP53 gene that dramatically increases cancer risk.

Speaking to Stand Up To Cancer last year Morgan’s family said this testing has helped to save his sister Rhiannon’s life as the wider family were tested for the condition and the same mutation was found in Matt and Rhiannon.

Anyone carrying this mutation is predisposed to developing rare and very aggressive forms of cancer. While it confirmed that Rhiannon’s risk of developing breast cancer is above 95% the family said the testing means they can now look at preventative measures.

“Morgan losing his life has probably saved mine and certainly his sister’s,” Matt said.

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There’s also an option to get free unlimited access to Cadbury World, Legoland and Sea Life centres for a whole year

For thrill-seekers, going to a theme park is often a once a year treat. While exhilarating, the experience can be costly, especially when you factor in fuel and spending money for food or merchandise on the day.

Buying tickets on the gate at Alton Towers is often the quickest and easiest way to gain entry, but is typically the most expensive. WIth walk-up passing costing upwards of £60 for children and £68 on the day, the price can quickly add up, especially for families.

Luckily, there’s a way to bag an annual pass for Alton Towers for less than it would cost for a single gate ticket. Merlin Entertainments, the company that owns the Stoke-on-Trent theme park and resort, has dropped a new deal that offers entry for an entire year for £64, previously retailing for £68.

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The Alton Towers Annual Pass offers almost unlimited entry to the theme park for 12 months. It unlocks entry to the park for the main season from March to November as well as for seasonal events on dates in between.

Offering entry on 339 days of the year, the Annual Pass works out to cost just 19p a day. This is far cheaper than if you were to buy tickets to the park every time you visit.

Adrenaline junkies can test their courage on the legendary twists of the Wicker Man or face the sheer vertical drop of the iconic Oblivion. From junior coasters to high-speed mysteries like Th13teen, the park ensures a non-stop day of heart-pounding action for older children and adults alike.

Younger guests will be delighted to explore the UK’s only CBeebies Land, where they can interact with their favourite characters across a variety of colourful, preschool-friendly attractions. Adding to the excitement, the resort has now opened the world’s-first Bluey ride, titled Bluey the Ride: Here Come the Grannies!

For theme park fans looking to try somewhere different, Wowcher’s Theme Park Breaks could be the ideal choice. They’re currently promoting a Gulliver’s Valley Resort Stay and Theme Park Entry deal starting at £139, with options available during school holidays for a family of four looking for an exciting break.

If your family is keen on outdoor adventures, consider a National Trust Family Membership starting at £103 annually. It contains free entry to more than 500 places from houses and gardens to coastlines and countryside.

Shoppers looking to get even more bang for their buck may want to consider purchasing one of the other passes available at Alton Towers. These not only offer entry to the theme park, but offer exclusive discounts as well as entry to other locations owned by Merlin Entertainments.

If you spend a little bit extra on a Gold or Platinum pass, this will include access to more than 20 other theme parks and attractions. These include: Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Legoland Windsor Resort, Sea Life, Thorpe Park, the London Eye, Warwick Castle and Cadbury World, among others.

Merlin Essential Pass, £139:

Get the Merlin Essential Pass here.

• Includes access to Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, Legoland Windsor Resort, Sea Life and more.
• 339 days’ entry to over 20 top UK attractions.

Merlin Gold Pass, typically £239 now £189:

Get the Merlin Gold Pass here.

• 364 days’ entry to over 20 top UK attractions (excludes Alton Towers Fireworks).
• Includes access to Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, Legoland Windsor Resort, Sea Life and more.
• Free parking at Theme Parks and Warwick Castle.
• Up to 20% off retail, food and beverages.

Merlin Platinum Pass, typically £299 now £249:

Get the Merlin Platinum Pass here.

• Includes access to Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, Legoland Windsor Resort, Sea Life and more.
• No exclusion dates.
• Free parking at Theme Parks and Warwick Castle.
• up to 20% off food, drinks, retail, and short breaks.
• Four free bring-a-friend tickets a year.
• 1 free one-shot fastrack per visit.
• Free Coke Freestyle cup and refills.
• 15% off Merlin Holiday Club

With more than two million visitors coming through the park gates every year, many have shared their experiences in TripAdvisor. One five-star review said: “We had an excellent time, lovely clean park, amazing rides (we travelled for nearly 5hrs each way with an overnight stay nearby) and it was thoroughly worth it.

“Staff were friendly mostly, and the rides were mainly operating, with other a few with downtimes. We visited midweek in late April, after Easter but before May bank holiday and there were hardly any queue times. A really great experience, but glad we avoided the weekend crowds.”

Another added: “The rides were amazing. We had a really good time and loved it so much. The staff are really kind and the rides are fabulous.”

One family who stayed in the Stargazing Pods said that they had a “Fab family weekend,” adding: “The pods are really warm, cosy and very clean. The take away breakfast was enjoyed by us all. The shower block was probably the nicest I’ve seen on a camp site.”

Not every visitor experience was quite so positive, with one guest noting: “Felt like the park was overbooked in comparison to other years. Anyone that waits 60 mins for a round child’s rollercoaster is insane and their children must have amazing patience.”

But for some it was a ‘truly awesome’ experience, with another guest sharing: “We stayed at Splash Landings Hotel and it was fabulous. The rooms are beautifully decorated (we had the standard rooms), very clean and great amenities, even an iron and ironing board, and a travel cot.

“Their restaurant is fabulous; the food delicious and plenty of it – best buffet breakfast and dinner we’ve ever had. Lovely evening entertainment for the children too.” Get the Alton Towers Annual Pass for £64 here.

Festival of the week: City of York Roland Walls Folk Weekend 2026, Black Swan Folk Club, Peasholme Green York, today and tomorrow

CITY of York Roland Walls Folk Weekend’s three-day programme of 50 acts continues today and tomorrow with bands, soloists and sessions throughout the pub and in the car park from 1pm each day after last night’s Irish-themed bill in the club room.

Among the performers will be King Courgette, in the return of the original line-up, Leather’O, White Sail, Janglebuddies, Graham Hodge, Monkey’s Fist, Chechelele, Caramba, Holly Taymar, Duncan McFarlane Band, Mary Molloy, Susie Coyle, Soundsphere and Jon Palmer Band. Admission is free, with collections for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Lunchtime concert of the week: York Late Music, Stuart O’Hara (bass) and Rob Hao piano), Unitarian Chapel, St Saviourgate, York, today, 1pm

MARRYING words and music, bass Stuart O’Hara and pianist Rob Hao’s performance is based around new settings of Yorkshire poets by local composers: James Else&Alan Gillott, Retratos (world premiere, complete song cycle); Tim Brooks& Lizzi Linklater, New Student In The University Cafe (world premiere); Jenny Jackson& Richard Kitchen, Vessels (world premiere) and Nick Carter& Hugh Bernays: The Water Will Not Remember from Requiem for the Arctic (world premiere)

This afternoon’s recital also includes David Power’s Six Songs, based on the poetry of E.H. Visiak, and two new settings by York St John University student composers Robyn Hughes-Maclean and Matthew Jarvis. Tickets: latemusic.org or on the door.

Poetry and music in motion: The Elysian Singers, York Late Music, Unitarian Chapel, St Saviourgate, York, tonight, 7.30pm

DIRECTED by Sam Laughton, The Elysian Singers’ insightful programme celebrates the musical settings of the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins. Benjamin Britten’s A.M.D.G. will be complemented by works by Samuel Barber (Heaven-Haven), Alan Bullard (The Windhover and Spring Morning), Bob Chilcott (The Bethlehem Star) and Ian Stephens (Pied Beauty).

The première of David Lancaster’s new work, Henry Purcell, featuring Hopkins’ tribute to his own favourite composer, provides an opportunity to revisit Purcell’s Remember Not, Lord, Our Offences and O Lord God Of Hosts. David Power’s quirky and imaginative settings of four E.H. Visiak poems completes the line-up, preceded by Lancaster and Power’s 6.45pm pre-concert talk. Tickets: latemusic.org or on the door.

Recommended but sold out already: Shed Seven, A Maximum High 30th Anniversary Show, The Piece Hall, Halifax, today, gates open at 6.30pm

Shed Seven: Marking 30th anniversary of A Maximum High with one-off concert at The Piece Hall, Halifax

YORK band Shed Seven are marking the 30th anniversary of their hit-laden second album, April 1996’s A Maximum High, with a one-off concert at The Piece Hall, featuring the magnum opus in full plus further Sheds’ hits and fan favourites. Expect a few surprises too. The Guest List (6.30pm) and Seb Lowe (7.20pm) support.

Seaside trip of the week; Madness, Scarborough Open Air Theatre, tonight, doors 6pm

IN their 50th year since forming in Camden, Nutty Boys Madness make their fourth appearance at Scarborough Open Air Theatre after previous seaside visits in 2017, 2019 and 2024.

Drawing on 31 Top 40 hits and 11 Top Ten albums, their timeless blend of ska, pop, punk and music hall will be on show as ever in Our House, It Must be Love, Baggy Trousers, House Of Fun et al. The Beat featuring Ranking Jnr and reggae vocalist Hollie Cook support. Box office: scarboroughopenairtheatre.com.

Thriller of the week: The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, Grand Opera House, York, June 9 to 13, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday matinees

FOR the first time, a John le Carré novel is being brought to life on stage by Chichester Festival Theatre in David Eldridge’s adaptation of The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, a tale that journeys through the fog-shrouded terrain ofColdWar espionage, deception and moral compromise.

Death In Paradise star Ralf Little’s disillusionedBritish intelligence officer, Alec Leamas, is ready to come in from thecold, untilveteran agent George Smiley persuades him to take one final mission against the East German Secret Service. Deep undercover, Leamas finds his convictions tested and his defences breached by Liz Gold, a quietly defiant librarian, whose compassion threatens to thaw his frostbitten heart. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.

Literature lessons of the week: Black Treacle Theatre in Educating Rita, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, June 9 to 13, 7.30pm

YORK actors Florence Poskitt and Jamie McKeller team up for the first time under Jim Paterson’s direction in Willy Russell’s warm, witty and moving double-hander about the power of education to change lives. When Rita, a working-class hairdresser hungry for something more, signs up for an Open University literature course, she meets disillusioned academic Frank, whose passion for teaching has long faded.

Their weekly tutorials become a battle of ideas, humour and honesty as Rita’s confidence blossoms and Frank reckons with his own choices and the possibility of a second chance. Change comes with difficult choices for both student and tutor, who must reconsider who they are and who they want to be. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.

Unscripted silliness of the week: Unwritten: The Literary Improv Show, Rise@Bluebird Bakery, Acomb, York, June 11, 8.30pm, doors 7.30pm

YORK troupe The Bluffs take classic short-form improv games and infuse them with storytelling flair in an evening of laughter, silliness and plot twists. Each fast-paced show is shaped by audience suggestions and spontaneous creativity. Expect scenes inspired by classic literature, unexpected character mash-ups and even a fanfiction-inspired musical number.

The Bluffs are drawn from a melange of theatrical, comedy and musical backgrounds, from festival stages to pantomime and competitive Theatresports (CORRECT). Box office: eventbrite.com/e/unwritten-the-literary-improv-show-tickets-1984763723726.

The Old Paint Shop presents: Wright & Grainger Say It & Play it, York Theatre Royal Studio, June 11, 8pm

FRIENDS and working partners since Easingwold schooldays, Wright & Grainger serve a carefully curated evening of stories, poems, songs and gentle chaos. Known for their internationally acclaimed adaptations of Ancient Greek myths, sometimes they do something a tad different.

Say It & Play It will be a set full of Alexander Flanagan Wright & Phil Grainger’s shorter collaborative works, the poems that stand on their own, the beautiful tracks they have been writing. “It’s a gorgeous weave of our home-grown stuff, grown and told on home turf,” they say. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

The UK’s largest warship, HMS Prince of Wales, has experienced a technical issue while docked at a port in Norway, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

The £3.5 billion vessel had set sail earlier this month from Loch Long, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Its deployment to Nordic waters was intended to provide security across the Atlantic and High North regions.

“A minor technical issue” was identified on the Royal Navy’s most powerful vessel during its latest stop in Stavanger, a port city in south-western Norway, the MoD said.

The aircraft carrier is expected to sail in the coming days, the ministry added.

HMS Prince of Wales also broke down in 2022 while travelling to joint exercises with the US Navy.

An MoD spokesperson said: “HMS Prince of Wales is currently conducting a port visit to Stavanger as part of the Carrier Strike Group’s deployment across the North Atlantic and Arctic, we expect her to set sail in the coming days.”

The Daily Mail quoted a senior Navy source as saying the latest breakdown was ‘devastating for morale’.

The ship, which is generally based in Portsmouth, was joined by Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan and tanker RFA (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) Tidespring on its way to Nordic waters.

It has worked with Nato and the Joint Expeditionary Force throughout the deployment.

What to know about HMS Prince of Wales

HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth are the largest and most powerful vessels ever constructed for the Royal Navy.

HMS Prince of Wales weighs 65,000 tonnes, and has a top speed in excess of 25 knots per hour and a range of 10,000 nautical miles.

It can carry up to 72 aircraft, including a maximum of 36 F-35B fighter jets, and has an expected service life of up to 50 years, according to the Royal Navy.

The ship can operate on a crew of 678, but can accommodate up to 1,600 people.

Commanding officer Captain Ben Power said before it set sail: “HMS Prince of Wales stands ready as the nation’s flagship to demonstrate the United Kingdom’s commitment to Nato and the Joint Expeditionary Force.

“My thanks go to our families who continue to show unwavering support as we deploy for a period away from home waters.”

Commander James Mitchell, commanding officer of the HMS Duncan, added: “As a Type 45 destroyer, HMS Duncan brings world-class air defence capability to the Carrier Strike Group, providing essential protection to HMS Prince of Wales and other high-value units.

“Training alongside our allies in the North Atlantic and High North strengthens our ability to operate as an integrated and resilient force.”

For Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, better known as Lady Phyll, advocacy feels less like a choice and more like something woven into who she is: “Activism really found me, when I didn’t have the language for it, growing up as a Black queer woman.”

She traces the connection back to being 12 years old, when she remembers a British National Party march taking place nearby, and an elderly woman urged her to go into a shop before they arrived as they “didn’t like your sorts”. The comment was directed only at Lady Phyll, not the blonde-haired, blue-eyed friend she was standing beside.

“It made me think there is something very different about me that people don’t like,” she recalled. The moment stayed with her and helped ignite what would become a lifelong commitment to campaigning.

“At my core, activism has always been about dignity and people wanting to feel safe, visible, and worthy of joy.” Joy is a word Lady Phyll returns to constantly throughout the conversation. For her, it’s key to have joyful moments, and it’s an essential part of her work.

That attitude to activism eventually led to the creation of UK Black Pride in 2005, which celebrated its milestone 20th anniversary last August. Lady Phyll now marks her third year as CEO after previously holding the role of executive director, and she has been included in The Independent’s Pride List 2026 for the fourth consecutive year for her decades-long work on race, gender and LGBTQ+ rights.

“UK Black Pride came from a need, frustration and desire to see ourselves in spaces where we could be fully ourselves,” she said. “Without having to fragment parts of our identity of being Black and being queer.”

At the time, she said many Black LGBTQ+ people felt pressured to choose between their Blackness and their queerness. Lady Phyll was then running Black Lesbians UK (BLUK), and organised a coach trip to Southend-on-Sea, which became something much bigger. “It felt joyful, liberating. We understood that shared commonality we had with each other,” she explained.

As they walked back to the coach, Lady Phyll floated the idea of creating a UK Black Pride similar to events in Chicago and Washington DC. A few people laughed it off, thinking it was just a “wacky idea”. The idea, of course, turned out to be anything but wacky.

Building UK Black Pride was far from easy, though. Lady Phyll said she struggled to find support and advice, faced resistance, and even received death threats in the organisation’s early days. Two decades later, she is still frequently asked why a Black Pride is needed at all. “It’s not something I feel the need to justify,” she said.

Part of the problem, she explained, was that Black queer communities often felt invisible within wider Pride spaces, or “tokenised with one Black speaker who’s supposed to speak on behalf of everybody… We’re not a monolith,” she said.

For Lady Phyll, intersectionality remains central to the organisation’s mission, and she’s encouraging people to look further than just the need for ‘diversity’, which she said is important, but doesn’t cover the full picture. “We should not have to separate our identities,” she added, explaining the lived experiences of race, gender, class, disability, age and more all matter.

Now 20 years on, the anniversary event was attended by 25,000 people at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. Beyond London, events also took place elsewhere in the UK, including Cymru Glitter in Wales, recognising that not everyone can travel to the capital. Queer Britain (the UK’s first LGBTQ+ dedicated museum) also hosted an exhibition showcasing items from UK Black Pride’s archive. “When I walked in, I almost felt like breaking down and crying,” Lady Phyll said.

The anniversary wasn’t just about celebrating the past, but the momentous milestone meant the team began to look at how to sustain this event for the future, and as a result, UK Black Pride will be taking a break this year and will return in 2027. “It’s not because of a lack of sponsors or funding,” she explained. “It’s more about how we sustain UK Black Pride in an increasingly hostile environment, and make sure we can maintain it as a free event for the future.”

Over its two decades, UK Black Pride has grown into the world’s largest celebration for LGBTQ+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American, Middle Eastern and Indigenous descent. Though she knew the event would be big, as there was already “the traction and the need for it”, she didn’t envisage it would grow to the size it has done. “What it’s become today, I just think, ‘wow’,” she said, while stressing the importance of the work, efforts and dedication of the wider team behind the event. “I may be the face behind it, but it’s the people that make it happen.”

What moves her most about UK Black Pride’s success is not the scale of the event, but what it represents. “When parents come with their queer children, or seeing generations of global majority people [Black, Asian, brown, dual-heritage or indigenous people] dance together and when trans people feel safe enough to just exhale.”

Lady Phyll also believes Pride must remain political at its core, particularly at a time when some feel events have become overly corporate or sanitised. “Pride can’t just be a party when we’re still fighting to survive… it was born out of disruption from people who had been criminalised and marginalised,” she said. “You can’t take the politics out of Pride.”

Despite growing hostility toward LGBTQ+ communities globally, Lady Phyll, who seems to be endlessly full of positivity and joy, feels hopeful about the future. “I come from communities that have always found ways to survive,” she concluded. Adding that she “finds hope in young people and definitely our trans activists who refuse to disappear.”