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The Prince and Princess of Wales braved heavy rain as they stopped to meet enthusiastic well-wishers during their visit to Wales today.
William and Catherine, both wearing daffodils on their lapels, spent nearly half an hour standing beneath umbrellas while greeting members of the public who had waited for hours in difficult weather conditions. The couple shook hands, shared hugs and even played rock, paper, scissors with those gathered to see them.
Their spontaneous walkabout — during which they asked their convoy to stop so they could greet cheering crowds — meant the engagement ran around 50 minutes behind schedule, leaving them late for the next stop of their visit in Powys ahead of St David’s Day.
During the away-day, their programme included watching a welding demonstration, helping paint signs for an upcoming local festival, and listening to a children’s choir perform a song celebrating the area.
While touring The Hanging Gardens, a community hub featuring a café, gardens, kitchens, performance spaces, an indoor market and a cinema, the couple repeatedly paused to spend time with groups of young children. The venue regularly hosts events designed to bring local residents together through shared activities and community gatherings.
After noticing a small group of nursery children waving Welsh flags they had coloured themselves, William remarked, Oh I’ve got to go and say hello, before looking for an umbrella so he could walk over to them.
Catherine asked, Do you want to come under here?, though he was soon handed his own umbrella as the pair made their way across to greet the youngsters.
The princess, dressed in a burgundy coat with a coordinating blouse and knee-high boots, playfully pretended to be startled when three-year-old Joseph let out a loud roar at her.
Later indoors, William accepted a taste of local cider, joking, if I’m offered a glass of cider, I’m having a glass of cider, while Catherine tried a pomorange juice made from pomegranate and orange.
The prince also took part in cooking Welsh cakes on a small griddle inside the community kitchen, where the couple spoke with locals about regional issues and listened to concerns surrounding the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
The royal couple left the visit carrying several gifts from local residents, including a handmade hook created by 21-year-old Ollie Jones from Oak Stream Forge, who had demonstrated traditional iron-forging techniques. They were also presented with a box of chocolates from the market and a colourful laminated drawing of themselves prepared by local children.
William and Catherine later walked over to greet neighbours gathered outside, with the princess quickly heading toward a group of young children who were visibly soaked by the rain and beginning to feel the cold.
Throughout the visit, the couple paused multiple times to meet members of the public — stopping again to greet nursery children and once more while moving between buildings.
After entering their cars to continue on to nearby Newtown, aides informed them that a large crowd had assembled along the main road, prompting the convoy to stop once again.
Onlookers were heard reacting with excitement as they realised the royals were going to greet them after all. One woman said: Oh I really hope they stop, they [the children] are all soaking, before adding moments later, Oh they are! Oh my goodness! This is just wonderful.
The couple separated to greet well-wishers on opposite sides of the road. However, when a young boy wearing a blue dinosaur coat told William that he had been waiting specifically to meet the Princess, the Prince set off to find Catherine for him, eventually guiding her through the police and media crowd so the child could speak with her.
“Very nice to meet you, these are lovely flowers aren’t they. I love daffodils. Did you get very wet? Thank you for coming to meet us.”
Gareth Morgan, a 90-year-old retired county councillor, clasped William on the shoulder and told him “God bless”, and that people were thinking of his family.
