The market town of Pontypridd welcomed the Prince and Princess of Wales on Wednesday as the royal couple met with local business owners and residents still recovering from devastating floods that have repeatedly hit the area.
Prince William and Catherine’s visit, which coincided with preparations for St. David’s Day celebrations, brought national attention to the ongoing challenges faced by the Welsh community following last November’s Storm Bert and the subsequent Storm Darragh.
Local barber Josh Downes, whose Lost Boys Club was among the businesses damaged when the River Taff burst its banks, shared his experience with the royal couple. “I could see all my stuff floating around and had to get in there. As I opened the door it all came crashing in,” he recounted.
The visit wasn’t just about witnessing damage, however. Mr. Downes later explained that his conversation with the Prince focused on the recurring nature of the flooding problem. “It was more of a conversation about how we keep flooding and how much stress it must be causing owning a business in Ponty with the constant worry of flooding on your mind,” he said.
In a potentially significant development for the town, café owner Enrico Orsi revealed that Prince William had committed to investigating the flooding issues further. “William was very empathetic to how it must be for us, juggling the stress of, essentially what is climate change, and the uncertainty of what can happen in the winter here,” Mr. Orsi said. “And he said he is going to look into it for us.”
The royal couple also visited butcher Kevin Kidner at his home. The 61-year-old business owner, who experienced three-foot-deep flooding, expressed hope that the high-profile visit might generate more support. “I think if they can push other people to help us it would be great, but it happens all over, not just in Wales,” he noted.
For the hundreds of locals who lined the streets—many singing the Welsh hymn “Calon Lân” as they waited—the visit represented a welcome boost to community morale. Lisa Maunder, who waited hours with her children despite hail and rain, described Pontypridd as “a bit of a dying town” and welcomed the attention the royal visit brought. “It lifts the spirits of everyone,” she said.
The couple’s itinerary included lighter moments as well. At The Welsh Cake Shop in Pontypridd Market, they rolled dough and cooked traditional Welsh cakes on a hot plate, with Prince William joking about skills learned from celebrity baker Mary Berry during their previous television appearance together.
This marks the couple’s first joint visit to Wales since Catherine announced her cancer diagnosis last March. Having completed chemotherapy treatment last summer, the Princess has been making a gradual return to public duties.
The royal visit, while delayed by almost an hour due to train disruptions, successfully highlighted both the traditional culture of Wales through St. David’s Day preparations and the pressing contemporary issues of climate resilience and recovery facing communities like Pontypridd, which was also severely affected by Storm Dennis in 2020.
Local leaders hope the royal spotlight will translate into continued support for flood prevention measures and community rebuilding efforts in the months ahead.
