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An Australian man, who discovered he is a distant relative of the Princess of Wales through an AncestryDNA test, has said they both have the same “smashing smiles” and “great dress sense”. David Willis, 54, a union organiser, who lives in Avenel in Victoria, Australia, with his partner of 18 years, Rodney Kendall, 52, found out, in 2017 after doing the DNA test, that he is Kate’s fourth cousin once removed through his mother’s working class family from Durham in the UK. David, whose friends now call him a “queen”, has also tracked down a fourth cousin in Durham who he speaks to regularly via email – he hopes to one day meet her in person, and joked he might “extend (his) invitation to Kate”. But, despite the genetic evidence, David’s mum “still won’t believe him”, as she “always understood (their) roots to be working class”, but his cousins “are loving” the royal connection. On David’s father’s side, he has discovered that “they were a boat full of convicts”, so he now likes to jokingly refer to himself as “Kate’s convict cousin”. “I thought, what do Kate Middleton and I have in common? We both have smashing smiles, great dress sense and we’re distant cousins,” David said. “I have blue blood – my friends call me a queen – I truly am!” David began researching his family history more than 20 years ago, he explained: “I’m a bit of an amateur historian. “When Ancestry started – I’ve been involved for probably 18 to 19 years – I was able to access materials, resources and documents that in the past I would have had to have travelled to England to gain access to, so I was able to do that all online. “I researched my family on both sides, and that’s when it came up with an interesting connection.” In 2017, it appeared as if Kate was on David’s family tree, he said: “No one believed me – I had to double check the paperwork, and I thought what better way of doing it than testing my DNA through Ancestry. “I was able to just submit my DNA to finally prove and say to everybody that I got my research right.” It was confirmed that David’s mother’s working class family, from Durham in the UK, had links to Kate – they are fourth cousins once removed. David explained their connection: “We share a common ancestor, and we’re fourth cousins once removed. “We go back six generations and Kate goes back seven to our common ancestor, Jane Conyers, who was the daughter of a fellow called Sir Thomas Conyers, the ninth Baronet of Horden. “But, because he had three girls, the title died off with him and they married the local folk in the town. “So one of those girls was called Isabella, and her sister was called Jane. “About six generations ago, when my family sort of fell out of royalty with Sir Thomas, the rest of them were working in the coal mines – I find that fascinating stuff.” David has also discovered a third cousin, the daughter of his great-grandfather, who lives in Durham. He said: “We’ve actually been talking by email for probably one and a half years now, every couple of weeks. “She’s all excited about our family’s story. “And she did her DNA test too, and she’s definitely also related to Kate.” David explained how his family in Australia feel about being related to Kate: “My mother just doesn’t want to know – she doesn’t believe it because our family were always understood to be very working class. “Our family comes from Durham in the north, and my grandfather and his mother emigrated to Australia, after World War One, when my great-grandfather was killed. “He was a coal miner from Newcastle upon Tyne, so my family escaped poverty by moving to Australia, and we just always understood our roots to be working class. “So when there was a bit of a royal connection I don’t think we quite knew how to feel. “Mum still won’t believe me, but my cousins are loving it.” David explained how it feels to have a link to the current royal family: “I’m not a massive royalist by any means, because, in Australia, we’re a few steps removed. “But having said that, I still have a fascination with UK culture – I watched every bit of the coronation for example.” David explained the stark contrast between his mother’s and his father’s side of the family: “On my mum’s side we have sirs and Kate Middleton, but on my dad’s side, on the other side of the world, they were a boat full of convicts, so I joke that I’m Kate’s convict cousin!” Looking to the future, David hopes to meet some of his closer relatives in the UK, he explained: “I’d love to meet the cousin I’ve been emailing and have a trip to Durham. “Maybe I’ll also extend my invitation to Kate and see if she fancies joining!” Read More Kate Middleton sticks to royal protocol after fan asks for an autograph: ‘I can’t write my name’ ‘I did a DNA test and found out I had 7 siblings I didn’t know about’ Kate Middleton has touching response after child asks what it’s like to be a princess Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

The upcoming Memorial Day weekend is expected to see millions of Americans travel despite tight budgets, kicking off

Dame Esther Rantzen has revealed that her lung cancer has progressed to stage four, after previously announcing in January that she had been diagnosed with the disease. The Childline founder and broadcaster told The Mirror that “nobody knows” if the new medication she is trying is working and a scan “will reveal one way or another”. Earlier in the year, Rantzen, 82, said she had “decided not to keep this secret any more because I find it difficult to skulk around various hospitals wearing an unconvincing disguise” and was “remaining optimistic”. Stage four is when cancer has spread from where it started to another body organ, according to Cancer Research UK, and is also called secondary or metastatic cancer. More than 43,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year in the UK, according to the NHS, making it one of the most common forms of cancer – yet the disease is often shrouded in myths and misconceptions. So, what do you need to know? Here are some important facts about lung cancer… 1. Lung cancer can affect people of any age According to John Costello, a pulmonologist at the Mayo Clinic: “Lung cancer is certainly more common in older people – the average age of diagnosis is 70 years.” This does not mean it only ever affects older age groups, however. Lisa Jacques, lead specialist cancer nurse at Perci Health, says: “Most people develop lung cancer in their 60s and 70s, after many years of smoking, but occasionally people get lung cancer at a much younger age, even in their 20s and 30s.” 2. Lung cancer is not always caused by smoking Although smoking can certainly increase your chances of developing lung cancer, it is not the only cause. “Smoking is the cause of most lung cancers and the biggest risk factor, but about 10% of people who get lung cancer have never smoked,” explains Jacques. Costello adds: “There are some lung cancers which are genetic and may not be smoking-related, and some others are caused by exposures to substances like asbestos, radon gas and passive smoking” – although he says these are “relatively uncommon”. 3. Stopping smoking can help protect you Costello says: “Some of the damage and inflammation caused by smoking can be reversible, but in particular, emphysema is architectural destruction of the lung which causes extreme breathlessness and cannot be reversed.” So quitting smoking might reduce your risk and is always worthwhile for your health – but not starting the habit at all is much better. Speak to your GP if you would like support with quitting. 4. Lung cancer is not always deadly A diagnosis of lung cancer does not always mean certain death, but it is still serious. “Lung cancer has a 65% survival rate for five years in people with localised disease,” says Costello. “If it has spread around the body at the time of diagnosis, the survival rate is only 8%.” However, he says there are “new techniques in screening for lung cancer, such as CT scans in smokers over 50 years with a serious tobacco background”. These “may pick up very small early tumours, which can be removed with up to an 80-90% five-year survival rate”. So if you have concerns about a persistent cough, which is one of the key warning signs, see your GP and get it checked out as soon as possible. 5. Men are more likely to get it but women still need to be aware According to Cancer Research UK, men are more likely to get the disease than women (52% of lung cancer cases are men, compared to 48% of women). However, these margins are small, and women absolutely do need to be aware of lung cancer as well. “Lung cancer has been an increasing problem in women since they caught up with men in terms of smoking habit, and they are therefore at risk if they smoke, and some of the non-smoking related lung cancers are more common in women,” says Costello. Jacques adds: “It is the third most common cancer in the UK, and in women it is the second most common cancer type.” So, whether you smoke or not, look out for the symptoms of lung cancer – like a cough lasting longer than two or three weeks, recurring chest infections, breathlessness or aches and pains when breathing – and see your GP if you have any concerns. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Camilla receives ‘beautiful’ compliment after meeting children at historic library 7 foods that could help you get better sleep Household energy bills set to fall from July: 7 ways to help keep bills as low as possible

By Rajesh Kumar Singh, Doyinsola Oladipo and David Shepardson After two successive summers of travel chaos, U.S. airlines

An anonymous person has been absolutely berated by their neighbour after they admitted to having their cat neutered without asking. The admission came in a Reddit post on the site’s Am I The A**hole community, where the person explained what they had done and how it led to their neighbour going “ballistic” at them. In the post, the person explained that they run a trap–neuter–return scheme among local strays and were recently called to an area with a lot of strays. They explained: “They were everywhere and I mostly ended up handing it over to professionals. “I did, however, manage to grab three very sweet cats. Two were terrified, skinny, a little beaten up, but overall friendly. The third one was a little gent.” The person explained that the third male cat had a collar, was tubby and well-groomed, indicating it had an owner. Explaining that they had a choice between locating the cat’s owners and dropping him off, or taking him to get neutered, the poster revealed they did the latter. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter They wrote: “Ultimately I took him with me and got him neutered. No chip so I called the number on his tag and informed them where their cat was and gave them time slots to pick him up or have him dropped off. “The owners went ballistic. They were cursing me out and came to collect their cat not twenty minutes later. Called me a kidnapper, blamed me for their child having nightmares (scared over their cat going missing).” While the person attempted to defend themselves, arguing they “have a duty to care for stray cats”, they didn’t garner a lot of sympathy in the post’s comments. One Redditor argued: “You did kidnap their cat and made a (superbly arrogant) decision to have him neutered without the owner's permission. “You can judge them all you want for letting their cat outside, but the first thing to have done was to call the cat's people and asked ‘Hey, I found your cat. Did you know he was outside?’ That's the basic due diligence, right there.” However, another Redditor also argued that while the original poster was in the wrong, the owners were also being irresponsible for letting their unneutered male cat out of the house. They wrote: “Everyone sucks here. The owners for letting an intact pet outside unsupervised to breed, and you for having a surgical medical procedure done to an animal (that you KNEW had owners) without the owner’s consent. “Regardless of the morality of allowing pets to contribute to the stray population (for which the owner is an a**hole), making medical decisions for someone else's pet makes you a massive a**hole.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Few things are more tiresome than slowly shuffling forward in an airport line with one anxious eye on

A designer dress apparently worth US$1,300 has been criticised as looking “cheap” after a woman posted a video of herself styling it on Instagram. Marjan Tabibzada, a fashion influencer whose Instagram account @youngcouture_ has more than 1.2m followers, shared the clip featuring a pink sheer dress by Jacquemus that currently retails for £970. The silk chiffon maxi dress features a cowl neck and strap detailing, as well as a flowing skirt with a train. Viewers, however, were unimpressed by how the dress looked and criticised it for appearing “cheap” and “not worth” the price tag. In her video, Tabibzada said she purchased a pink slip dress from Amazon to wear underneath the Jacquemus dress because it was “way too see-through”. She accessorised with flowery pink earrings, strappy heels from Zara, and a pearl clutch from Los Angeles brand Cult Gaia. In her caption, Tabibzada wrote: “Is this dress worth US$1,300?” Many of her viewers did not think so, with some saying that the influencer “got scammed” into buying the garment. “Definitely not worth the price… US$13 sure but I wouldn’t even spend US$20 on that,” one person said. A disappointed follower wrote: “Why is it so bad though? I had high hopes.” Explaining why they didn’t like the dress, one person said: “Not in love with the dress, especially with the tag showing through due to the sheerness. I don’t get the concept they were going for.” Another said the dress was “giving Shein”, comparing the designer garment to those sold on the fast fashion online retailer. Others defended the dress and its price, highlighting that it is made with luxury fabrics. One person wrote: “People in the comments are foolish, ‘Looks like it’s from Shein’, OK, great, enjoy your $9 (£7) dress. Expensive fabrics typically feel so incomparable on the body. “It won’t be staticky, it probably doesn’t stain as easily or snag… Y’all really think Shein dresses lok like real clothes… I think it’s very elegant. I’ll never understand the fascination with cheap clothes and shoes for some, they don’t feel the same.” Read More Mother reveals the sweet meaning behind viral graduation gift for her daughter Influencer hospitalised for traumatic brain injury after horse falls on her at Arizona ranch Beyoncé’s Renaissance mirror-ball cowboy hat has sold out – but we’ve found some similar styles Exposed bras are the newest fashion trend, but not everyone is convinced All the best-dressed stars at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival Italian designer launches scathing attack on Shein over ‘stolen ideas’

From cargo ships to passenger ferries, self-driving boats are already making a splash on our waterways.

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British Airways was forced to cancel more of its short-haul flights from Heathrow on Friday following a computer

Wondering whether certain foods can affect your sleep patterns – or if eating certain things could actually help improve your sleep? The relationship between diet, sleep and overall health is two-sided, says Gabi Zaromskyte, registered nutritionist and founder of Honestly Nutrition. “Meaning what we eat and drink affects our sleep, but also, the quality and duration of sleep can affect our food choices,” Zaromskyte explains. “Scientific research has increasingly shed light on the significant impact of dietary choices on cognitive function, mood, and overall physical and mental health,” she adds. Certain dietary patterns and specific nutrients have been found to influence the sleep-wake cycle, sleep latency (the time it takes to fall asleep), and sleep architecture (the different stages of sleep), notes Zaromskyte. She continues: “And the quality and timing of our food and beverage intake can impact the production of sleep-regulating hormones, such as melatonin, which plays a critical role in regulating our sleep-wake cycle.” However, as Dr Maja Schaedel, co-founder of The Good Sleep Clinic points out, it’s important to understand that most research done so far shows that even though certain foods may be higher in melatonin, that does not necessary equate to falling asleep quicker. “You may have higher levels of melatonin, but if you’ve got stuck in a bad habit of tossing and turning for two hours before drifting off, or waking at 3am and not being able to return to sleep, foods high in melatonin are not going to solve your problem,” says Schaedel. She suggests that generally, it’s best to eat your evening meal at least two hours before bed, to avoid any indigestion, spikes in blood sugar and increase in body temperature that can occur while digesting. “If you tend to get peckish later in the evening, then plan a snack an hour or two before bed,” Schaedel adds. “It’s best to have something high in protein, like Greek yoghurt or nuts, and low in complex carbohydrates to avoid any spikes and falls in blood sugar.” Also, it might be wise to avoid the usual culprits which can trigger discomfort. “Fatty and spicy foods can cause heartburn and indigestion which can hinder good sleep, as well as alcohol, caffeine and tobacco,” says Lisa Artis, deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity. Here, experts share their go-to foods for supporting healthy sleep… 1. Cheese “Cheese gets a bad reputation as it’s commonly believed to give us nightmares, but actually it’s the opposite,” says Artis. “Cheese, and other dairy products, contain tryptophan, an amino acid which helps us to nod off more easily, and calcium which helps to reduce stress.” 2. Cherries To find out if foods with naturally occurring melatonin make a difference for you, Artis suggests giving cherries a go – particularly tart cherries, which have been found to naturally boost the production of melatonin. Zaromskyte says several studies have shown significant improvements in sleep quality and duration when consuming Montmorency cherries or tart cherry juice, where the concentration of naturally occurring melatonin and phytochemicals is higher compared to whole cherries. 3. Low sugar cereals “Cereal can also help us to sleep – but we must be mindful of the type of cereal,” says Artis. “There are lots of sugary options on the market, so try to avoid these.” She says complex carbohydrate-rich foods increase the availability of tryptophan in the bloodstream which, in turn, may help us to nod off. 4. Bananas Bananas are an excellent source of magnesium, potassium and tryptophan, says Artis. In other words, a great choice when it comes to supporting sleep. “While bananas have lots of great qualities for sleep, all fruit contains sugar too, so be mindful of this in the run up to bedtime,” she notes. “Try blending one banana with one cup of milk or soya milk to make an ideal evening drink.” 5. Almonds “Almonds are a brilliant source of calcium and magnesium, which promotes both sleep and muscle relaxation,” says Artis. “Magnesium also helps to regulate melatonin levels and keep blood sugar levels stable overnight.” 6. Magnesium rich foods Magnesium, an essential mineral, has been found to play a crucial role in sleep regulation – and can influence sleep quality and duration, says Zaromskyte. “It acts as a co-factor in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, including those involved in the production and regulation of neurotransmitters and hormones that impact sleep.” Some magnesium-rich foods cited to help improve sleep quality include pumpkin seeds, spinach, almonds and dark chocolate (which is packed with health-enhancing antioxidants too). 7. Omega-3 rich foods Although research is limited, some evidence suggests foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may promote better, longer sleep, says Zaromskyte. “For example, walnuts are a source of melatonin and other sleep-regulating compounds, such as an amino acid tryptophan and omega-3 fatty acids,” she says. “Other omega-3-rich foods include oily fish, like salmon, trout, mackerel and sardines, chia seeds and flaxseeds.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Household energy bills set to fall from July: 7 ways to help keep bills as low as possible Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll Tina Turner’s most iconic looks 11 stylish ways to kit out kids’ bedrooms

By William Schomberg LONDON (Reuters) -British consumers picked up the pace of their spending last month and sales volumes over