The Princess of Wales is a fan of keeping fit

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The Princess of Wales is reportedly a fan of porridge to start her day, with a nutrition expert at BarBend noting that oats are an excellent breakfast choice for weight management. The expert noted that the slow-release energy from oats “keep Kate filled up and with enough fuel to attend royal events, exercise and run after her three children”.

Known for maintaining a disciplined fitness regime, oats “can be great exercise fuel, as they release energy throughout the whole workout”. The Princess of Wales is also said to enjoy antioxidant-rich smoothies at breakfast, “helping her maintain a natural glow and healthy skin,” according to the experts.

A nutritious morning smoothie suggestion combines “kale, spirulina, matcha, spinach, romaine and blueberries together in a delicious mix”, reports the Express. Health specialists at Healthline highlight the numerous benefits of starting the day with oats, particularly for those looking to shed a few pounds.

Oats are described as “a delicious breakfast food, also very filling” and are considered to be “among the healthiest grains on earth”. Porridge is “a great source of important vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants” and is “very filling which may help you lose weight,” the health site added.

It is widely believed that Kate keeps active with a varied fitness routine encompassing cardio training, weight lifting, cycling, rowing and yoga. A passionate runner, her preferred sport is tennis, which she reportedly practises “almost daily”. Kate serves as patron of the Lawn Tennis Association and took to the court alongside Roger Federer in 2023.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to have their own tennis court at Anmer Hall, their Norfolk residence, where she is believed to also practise with the children. A royal insider claimed: “Once their school work from Thomas’s Battersea has been dealt with satisfactorily, both George and Charlotte enjoy tennis lessons on their green court. Kate plays almost daily with the children and they like their practice sessions with her.”

Juliana Leonardi, senior personal trainer at David Lloyd Kensington, added: “The key to achieving a lean, toned body like the Princess of Wales without bulking is to do several reps of low weights. I definitely believe the Princess weight trains. There are so many benefits to weight training, from making you leaner and stronger to improving your bone density, burning fat and helping with posture,” she told HELLO!

A man hailed as a hero is facing a trial for the murder of five unarmed civilians during the war in Afghanistan.

Ben Roberts-Smith, 47, a former Australian Defence Force member, was arrested at Sydney Airport and charged with five counts of war crimes.

He was deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012, and faces five counts of murder and war crimes for the killing of five people.

Roberts-Smith served six tours in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012, before being lauded with several top military honours.

Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett said: ‘It will be alleged the victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder in Afghanistan.’

She added that the victims were initially detained, while unarmed, and were under the charge of Australian soldiers when they were murdered.

Roberts-Smith has denied all of the allegations, which first surfaced after an investigation in 2018.

In 2023, he quit his job after a civil court blamed him for unlawfully killing four people while he served in Afghanistan.

Now, the Australian Federal Police investigation into Roberts-Smith, which began in 2021, has led to his arrest.

Ross Barnett, director of investigations at the Office of the Special Investigator, which is assisting in the case, said the process has been complex.

‘We don’t have access to the crime scenes, we don’t have photographs, site plans, measurements, the recovery of projectiles, blood spatter analysis, all of those things we would normally get at a crime scene,’ he said.

Roberts-Smith is facing mounting calls to be stripped of his numerous awards during service, including the prestigious Victoria Cross.

He’s set to appear before a court for a bail hearing on Wednesday in New South Wales.

What is Roberts-Smith accused of?

Roberts-Smith is facing charges of war crimes and murder in Afghanistan while serving as an Australian soldier.

Anthony Besanko, a federal judge in the court of Australia, previously found on the balance of probabilities that he had taken part in at least four murders.

The court at the time heard that Roberts-Smith had ordered unarmed men in Afghanistan to be shot dead to ‘blood’ rookie soldiers on two occasions.

He was also found to have been involved in the deaths of a handcuffed farmer, whom he kicked off a cliff.

In another instance, he captured a Taliban fighter and used his prosthetic leg as a trophy and ‘drinking vessel’.

Roberts-Smith has denied any wrongdoing.

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The high street bakery is launching the Chicken Roll, made from seasoned chicken in golden glazed puff pastry.

It joins Greggs’ signature Sausage Roll and Vegan Roll, completing what the chain describes as its “iconic roll trilogy.”

The Chicken Roll contains 305 calories and will be priced at £1.35.

Greggs is adding the chicken roll to menus. (Image: Greggs)

Greggs to launch new permanent chicken roll

A spokeswoman for Greggs said: “They say the best things come in threes, and our iconic roll trilogy is no exception.

“We can’t wait for our customers to experience the Chicken Roll as the ultimate headline act of our flaky franchise.”

Ahead of its public launch, Greggs is hosting a special one-off event at a pop-up location on Bateman Street in London’s Soho.

On Wednesday, April 8, customers will have the chance to sample the new roll during a 20-minute tasting slot between 3.30pm and 9pm.

In keeping with the trilogy theme, guests must arrive as a group of three to take part, and entry is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Attendees will be treated to three complimentary rolls and a themed cocktail or mocktail.

The launch comes during a challenging period for the Newcastle-based company.

Greggs has felt the impact of the rising cost of living, higher tax and labour costs, and the growing use of weight-loss treatments.

Last month, the company reported a 17.9 per cent drop in statutory pre-tax profits, down to £167.4 million for the year ending December 27.

Despite the dip in profits, total sales rose by 6.8 per cent to £2.15 billion, supported by continued store expansion.

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In 2025, Greggs opened 121 net new shops, bringing its total to 2,739.

The company plans around 120 more openings this year and has set its sights on eventually surpassing 3,000 locations across the UK.

Will you be trying out Gregg’s new chicken roll? Let us know in the comments.

Allergy season is underway after a red hay fever alert was issued for most of the UK.

The Met Office has forecast “very high” levels of pollen in the air, which hit England and Wales on Monday and are expected to last until the weekend. Much of Scotland and Northern Ireland are also under an alert, with pollen levels due to decrease later in the week.

Symptoms of the common allergy include frequent sneezing, a runny nose, or itchy eyes, throat, mouth, or ears. Some people also experience a loss of smell, facial pain, sweating and headaches.

“Hay fever is the most common name for pollen allergy and is most commonly caused by grass pollens, although other pollens can also trigger the symptoms. The symptoms are caused when immune system reacts to pollen in the body to produce histamine and other chemicals,” the Met Office said.

The agency has forecast that levels of birch pollen and ash pollen will be very high in the south of England all week, as well as in Wales, northern England, and Scotland on Tuesday and Wednesday. There will also be high levels of plane pollen in these areas.

Pollen is made up of tiny particles, which are released by plants and trees as part of their reproductive cycle. Pollen season in the UK generally lasts from March until November.

Around 10 million Britons suffer from hay fever and it typically develops in childhood, although can be triggered at any age.

Pollen triggers the antibody immunoglobulin E, which creates mucus and leads to symptoms such as congestion and sneezing in people who suffer from hay fever.

The Met Office said that weather plays a significant role in the production, distribution and dispersion of pollen, with warmer temperatures often causing a higher pollen count.

Parts of the UK are set to reach 19C on Tuesday and Wednesday, and London could see temperatures hit 24C, which would mark the hottest day of the year so far.

It comes after Storm Dave brought snow, wind, and rain to parts of the country over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

Former England captain Courtney Lawes says he is “officially unretiring from international duty” after signing for Sale Sharks for the 2026-27 season.

The 37-year-old second row won three Six Nations championships and played in the 2019 World Cup final during a glittering 14-year England career before retiring from internationals after the 2023 tournament..

Lawes spent his club career with Northampton Saints, winning two Prem titles, before joining French side Brive in 2024.

“I’m officially un-retiring from international duty and I’d love to play for England again but first and foremost I want to play well for Sale and we’ll see what happens after that,” he told Sale’s official website., external

More to follow.

A fairground ride which broke mid-air sent a young woman plunging to the ground before she was caught by a man below.

At an Easter fair in Ometepec, Mexico, where the ‘The Hammer’ ride was set up, videos caught the attraction rotating above the ground despite signs that something had gone wrong.

Footage showed the ride swinging at speed before a loud metallic jolt prompted several people nearby to run towards it.

A piece of metal was seen lying on the ground beneath the ride, while several onlookers gathered, pointing upwards, when the young woman slipped from the moving ride and dropped to the ground.

Luckily, she was caught mid-fall by a man standing beneath her, who helped steady her and get her away from the still-spinning ride.

Witnesses could be heard shouting with some begging riders to hold on as others rushed in to help.

Authorities later confirmed that four people were injured in the incident, with two of the injured being driven to receive medical care by relatives, while two more were transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Officials from the State Secretariat for Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection said the accident was caused by a mechanical fault in the ride.

The failure reportedly caused a sudden loss of stability, sending riders tumbling from their seats while the machine was still in motion.

But early reports on social media suggested human error may also have played a role.

Witnesses claimed a child approached and interfered with the ride’s controls without supervision, triggering erratic and dangerous movements.

Officials have since launched an investigation and are carrying out safety checks on other rides at the fair.

The condition of those injured has not yet been officially confirmed.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Police have made no arrests

A cyclist was taken to hospital with serious injuries after a crash on a busy Cambridge road. Emergency services were called to Station Road in Cambridge at around 6pm on Saturday (April 4).

The crash involved a bike and bus. Cambridgeshire Police attended and the cyclist was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with serious injuries.

The bus driver remained at the scene. Officers made no arrests and continue to investigate the incident.

Stagecoach and the East of England Ambulance Service have been contacted for more information.

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If you walk along the wall that surrounds St Cuthbert’s Church in the heart of Darlington, you might notice, set between the old stones, a weathered block carved with the date 1846.

To most it’s just a curiosity, maybe a mason’s marker or a relic reused from an old church building. But look closer, and you’ll uncover a link to one of Darlington’s most enduring institutions — its grammar school.

The 1846 stone set into the wall around St Cuthbert’s Church in Darlington — a surviving reminder of the town’s former grammar school (Image: ANDREW WHITE)

This modest piece of masonry once marked the addition of a second storey to the Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth, which once stood hard against the churchyard.

It commemorates a phase in a story that stretches back centuries, when education in the town was a church-led affair and Latin was the key to learning.

The origins of Darlington’s grammar school can be traced to the medieval collegiate life of St Cuthbert’s.

As early as 1291, boys were being taught in the church’s All Saints chantry — Latin, of course, being essential for monks and clerics. The first written record of a grammar school comes from 1535, but its roots seem far older.

The man credited as its true founder was Robert Marshall, a Cockerton-born scholar who rose to become a provost of Oxford.

When he died in 1531, he left lands in Heighington, Thornaby, Tubwell Row and High Row to support the education of Darlington’s young people in the very church where he had learned his first lessons.

Royal politics almost destroyed his legacy. Henry VIII eyed the church’s wealth hungrily, but Marshall’s bequest survived — just.

An Edwardian postcard of the old Darlington Grammar School (Image: ARCHIVE)

Under his successor Edward VI, religious schools were still viewed with suspicion, and some of the All Saints’ school property was confiscated.

But help came from the next monarch. In 1563 Queen Elizabeth granted the establishment a royal charter, restoring what had been taken and securing its future. The school proudly took her name — The Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth.

For the next three centuries, it endured in various guises. The early buildings were humble – there’s a record from 1632 showing that 16 pence was paid to cover the floor with rushes, and that the headmaster, Richard Smelt, was liable for any broken windows.

By the mid-17th century, a new schoolhouse was built for £60 — still modest, but more substantial than before.

Not all masters were orthodox. One, the Reverend Thomas Cooke, took his religious experiments to alarming extremes.

Appointed in the 1750s, Cooke fasted for 40 days in imitation of Christ, though he gave up at seventeen, and, according to his obituary, even practised circumcision on himself to prove a theological point.

Declared mad, he was dismissed after two years and eventually ended his days in Bedlam.

By the early 1800s, the churchyard had become so overcrowded that the school was moved in 1813 to Leadyard, on land adjoining the church’s east end.

The 1846 stone set into the wall around St Cuthbert’s Church in Darlington — a surviving reminder of the town’s former grammar school (Image: ANDREW WHITE)

The 1846 extension — recorded by that modest little stone — gave it a second storey, though townsfolk were apparently unimpressed.

One historian judged it “a shabby, plain building”, hardly a showpiece for Darlington’s pride.

Still, that wall and its stone remain, a quiet survivor of eras when learning clung to the church’s shadow.

The school would eventually rise again — rebuilt in 1878 on Vane Terrace to designs by local architect GG Hoskins, opening with 84 pupils and a handsome clock donated by Henry Pease.

From the turn of the 20th century, the school came increasingly under the eye of local government.

Durham County Council made several attempts to take control, finally succeeding in 1917 after Darlington achieved county borough status.

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The “free” school had never quite lived up to its title — not until the Education Act of 1944 made secondary education truly free. By then, though, three-quarters of pupils already paid no fees thanks to scholarships and sponsored places.

As education modernised, so too did Darlington’s schools. A full reorganisation in 1968 turned the Girls’ High School into Hummersknott Comprehensive, and by 1970 the Boys’ Grammar School had become Darlington Sixth Form College.

But it’s that unassuming fragment, set into the church wall, that connects the modern passer-by with centuries of Darlington’s educational history — a reminder that great institutions, like great stones, often begin from humble foundations.