News
The Prince of Wales begins his tour of Wales
27th June 2011
Glorious sunshine greeted The Prince of Wales today as he enjoyed an ice cream during a trip to the seaside. The Prince was in Aberdyfi, on the coast of Gwynedd, to begin a week-long tour of Wales.
The harbour resort, famous for its beaches and yachting regattas, came to a standstill as he chatted and joked with visitors and locals.
Hundreds of people lined the high street, cheering and taking photographs as The Prince embarked on an hour-long walkabout.
His Royal Highness stopped to speak to business owners, including Angela Knox, owner of Aberdyfi Ice Creams, where he enjoyed a refreshing strawberry ice cream
and declared it was "delicious".
And he appeared delighted when Mrs Knox presented him with a home made
Bara Brith, a Welsh cake.
Afterwards, she said: "It's fantastic to have a visit like this - especially when the weather is as beautiful as it is today.
"It will really help promote the village and all the wonderful things we have to offer visitors."
The Prince also met Clare Reeves, who owns The Jewellery Workshop in Aberdyfi. She told him she started the business 25 years ago with a grant of £1,000 from his Prince's Trust charity.
After being shown around the thriving shop and workshop, The Prince told her: "I'm so pleased. What you have done is really encouraging."
Mrs Reeves, 46, paid tribute to The Prince's Trust, saying: "I just wanted to say thank you to him because the Trust gave me support when I needed it most and now, 25 years later, I'm still going strong.
"It wasn't just the grant money, it was the mentoring and advice that put me on the road to where I am today.
"That's why The Prince's Trust is so good at what it does and so important for so many young people."
The week-long tour, which The Duchess of Cornwall will join tomorrow, will focus on promoting tourism as well as supporting Their Royal Highnesses' charities and the green economy.
A highlight will be a reception at The Prince and Duchess's Welsh home, Llwynywermod in Mid-Wales, for young people involved in The Prince's Trust.
Aberdyfi, on the edge of Snowdonia, boasts breathtaking scenery stretching from the mountains to award-winning beaches.
The Prince unveiled a new community bell on the harbour-side, which will hang under the jetty and chime with the tidal pattern, creating music by striking a different note with each wave.
The Prince also took a walk down to the beach where he met donkeys Joey, Moses, Spot and Delboy.
He talked to owner Louise Peeters, 43, asking about the animals' welfare and workload.
She said: "I told him we keep them sheltered from the hot sun and they get well rested.
"Aberdyfi is a lovely, laid-back, uncommercial place and it's terribly exciting for The Prince to come and show his support."
After lunch, The Prince travelled to the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, Powys, where he met schoolchildren and adult students at the award-winning Wales Institute for Sustainable Education.