Princess of Wales branded 'an air of natural personal authority' as royal praised for 'impressive' demeanour

Royal historian David Starkey has praised Catherine, describing her as "impressive" and "well-educated".

He credited the royal couple, describing them as an "attractive, youngish couple" which is "a very important symbol".

However, Mr Starkey warned that "just going around the country being nice to people wearing Wellingtons or turning up in the rain isn't enough".

The monarchy has come under fire in recent weeks following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office over his ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew and Catherine have been praised for their walkabout in Newtown, which created what many described as an unforgettable occasion and something residents "will remember 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 Aueen.

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."

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.

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.

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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