Hundreds of residents braved wet weather to greet the Prince and Princess of Wales during their walkabout in Newtown, creating what many described as an unforgettable occasion and something residents "will remeber forever".
The visit drew people from across the community, spanning generations from young schoolchildren clutching homemade presents to volunteers keen to share their work with the future king and queen.
Despite the rain, the atmosphere remained warm and welcoming as families, local organisations and children gathered in the Mid Wales town's parks.
Stuart Owen, Chief Executive of Open Newtown, reflected on the occasion, saying: "It was wonderful to see hundreds of local children, families and residents come together in our parks to offer such a warm Mid Wales welcome."
The Prince and Princess of Wales stunned well-wishers in Wales
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For Eleri Gregory, the occasion presented a chance to create a lasting memory for her nearly eight-month-old daughter, Megan. Having never previously encountered a member of the royal family, she decided to bring her baby along to witness history.
"They were both so kind and genuine and asked questions about my daughter," she recalled. "William asked if she sleeps well and said Megan has some 'wonderful cheeks'."
The Princess of Wales accepted daffodils from the pair, telling Gregory that Newtown was "a lovely area" with friendly residents.
Gregory described the exchange as feeling natural and unhurried: "It felt like I could have chatted to them for ages, they were so lovely. I'm so glad we stuck it out in the rain."
Young visitors also seized the opportunity to present gifts to the royal couple during the walkabout.
A local resident described meeting the royals as "lovely"
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Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd pupil Elsi Green offered a banner she had made to Catherine, Princess of Wales. "I said, 'Do you want this banner that I have for you?' and she said, 'Oh, thank you, that's a lovely present from you'," the schoolgirl recounted. "It made me feel really happy and excited."
Jasmine Alleyne, 12, who holds the title of Newtown's Carnival Queen, arrived bearing flowers and a bracelet she had crafted specifically for Princess Charlotte.
"I've been a really big fan of the Princess of Wales, so I've come here to see her and to give her some flowers and a bracelet I made for Princess Charlotte," she explained. "It took me half an hour."
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Representatives from local organisations also had the opportunity to introduce their community initiatives to the royal visitors.
Andrew Coppin, who founded the mental health support group Men Walking and Talking, spoke directly with Prince William about the importance of men opening up during challenging periods. "We discussed men's mental health and how important it is to talk during difficult times," he said, adding their conversation also touched on Aston Villa and football.
The royals were praised for their "genuine" interactions
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Hala Hanschell, one of the few Arabic speakers in the area, discussed the Hand in Hand project at Oriel Davies, which provides assistance to Syrian and Afghan families settling locally.
"They were really interested to listen and warmly engaged in conversation," she said of the royal couple's response to learning about refugee support efforts in Newtown.
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