Hexagonal close packed (HCP) alloys have a wide range of industrial uses, including within thenuclear industry and for aerospace applications.The properties of HCP alloys are highlydependent on the microstructure that develops during processing, such as texture, grain size, anddefect structures. However, because current thermomechanical processing routes are not welloptimised there are considerable potential improvements in performance to be made. This workwill combine crystal plasticity modelling with novel characterisation methods to understand thedeformation of magnesium and zirconium alloys. The shape and position of the diffraction peaksalongside the modelling, will allow us to determine details of the deformed microstructure notpossible by other approaches. The work will also help us to develop more realistic peak profileanalytical approaches.