Princess of Wales told 'she's got the skill' during wool mill visit

The Princess of Wales was praised for her skills with a needle and thread after travelling to west Wales to celebrate some of the country's leading textile producers.

Catherine began her trip at Melin Tregwynt, a woollen mill in a remote wooded valley on the Pembrokeshire coast, where she was given the chance to mend luxurious fabrics during her visit.

She was guided by staff member Paula Harding, who said: "She did it right, it's amazing, and she didn't go through the other side, that's skill – she's got the skill."

Later, the princess visited Hiut Denim, a family-owned manufacturer based in Cardigan, where she helped finish off a pair of jeans given to her as a gift for the Prince of Wales.

Melin Tregwynt was run for more than 100 years by the Griffiths family, before it was set up as an employee-owned trust in 2022.

Known for its luxurious woollen blankets and throws using traditional Welsh designs, the company still weaves its fabrics in the mill bought by Henry Griffiths in 1912 when he first started the business.

Members of the public gathered there to greet her, before the Princess of Wales was led through the production process during a tour of the mill, and took the opportunity to try weaving one of the Welsh blankets.

The royal, who has a keen interest in fabrics and textile, asked lots of questions to the members of staff present.

In the quality control room, the princess met Harding, 44, who has worked for the business for 13 years and is the third generation of her family to work at the mill.

Her mother has worked there for 31 years and her grandmother was employed there for 33 years, retiring in 2012, at the age of 80.

As she tried her hand at mending a blanket, Catherine told Harding: "You make it look so easy - like a lot of things."

"Its a labour of love in so many ways," she added.

The royal tour continued to the sewing room where two sisters were working. There, the princess told them she had tried to do some sewing over the Christmas period, confessing: "I was very slow."

The princess has visited a number of weaving mills and manufacturers over the past 12 months.

In January, she toured a tartan-weaving studio in Stirling, while last year she visited textile workshops in Carmarthenshire, Suffolk, Kent and County Tyrone.

Later, Catherine visited Hiut Denim, a family-owned jeans manufacturer based in Cardigan.

The town has been home to jeans production since the 1960s, where its first factory employed more than 400 people making 35,000 pairs a week.

That factory closed in 2002 when production moved to Morocco, but Hiut brought those manufacturing skills back when the company was founded in 2011.

Its jeans hit the headlines in 2018 when the Duchess of Sussex wore a pair on her first royal engagement to Wales with her husband the Duke of Sussex.

On arrival, the princess met chief executive Johann von Loeper, who introduced her to his mother and fiancée.

During a tour of the factory, she made a fuss of his English cocker spaniel Barney – the same breed as the Wales' dog Orla.

The Princess of Wales also met Claudio Belotti, 75, who has 50 years of cutting experience.

Asked whether she wanted to have a go at cutting out a pair of organic Mari jeans – the firm's soon-to-be on sale slim fit women's denims – Catherine joked there was "no pressure".

While cutting, she said: "I love making things, so I think I would really enjoy making denims.

"The most adventurous I got was making a pair of pyjamas… and I don't know where they have gone now."

The princess went on tour the factory floor where she learnt about the history of the company and had the opportunity to stitch on a "made in Wales" label to a pair of £245 organic jeans which were to be given to her as a present for the Prince of Wales.

When told the trousers were a gift for her husband, she replied: "He will love those."

As a thank you for the visit, Catherine was also presented with a pair of jeans for herself.

Before departing, Catherine greeted well-wishers who had gathered outside the factory to catch a glimpse of the royal visitor.

She stopped to speak with one man who asked her how Prince George was, and she replied: "He's doing very well thank you. They are at school today and I am going to go back and see them this evening."

The man asked: "I hope you're getting better really soon after what happened to you."

Kate replied: "Thank you very much. This is good for my soul meeting wonderful people."