Prince and Princess of Wales take on Welsh cake-making challenge

The Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales, have been baking Welsh cakes to mark St David's Day.

They visited Pontypridd on Wednesday to learn how the community is coping following recent devastating flooding.

The visit to Rhondda Cynon Taf, which was delayed by almost an hour due to train disruptions, marks the couple's first visit to Wales together since Catherine announced last March she had begun cancer treatment, following the King's own cancer diagnosis.

The princess has made a gradual return to public duties since completing chemotherapy last summer.

The prince and princess rolled out the dough, made ahead of time, as Prince William asked The Welsh Cake Shop owner Theresa Conner: "Is it thick enough?"

The royal couple's skills were honed when they appeared with TV baking queen Mary Berry on A Berry Royal Christmas show, and Prince William praised her influence.

With flour stuck to the sleeve of his maroon sweater, he smiled and said: "Well I don't know, my stunning baker skills, Mary Berry taught me everything I need to know."

The couple cooked their Welsh cakes on a hot plate, keeping a watchful eye on them and turning them after five minutes, and Madison Conner, daughter of the shop owner, gave them the seal of approval.

She said: "They're perfect, they're great – they're bangin."

Storm Bert hit in late November and caused serious damage when the River Taff burst its banks and brought widespread flooding to Pontypridd, which had previously been badly hit by Storm Dennis in 2020.

A few weeks after Bert, Storm Darragh brought extremely high winds to the region.

On Wednesday Prince William and Catherine stopped at The Welsh Cake Shop in Pontypridd, a popular retailer in the town's market that has been a focal point for shoppers and traders for generations.

The shop is owned by Theresa Conner, 46, and is well known for its Welsh cakes and bara brith.

Outside, hundreds of people lined the streets outside Pontypridd Market hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal couple - passing the time singing Calon Lân.

Gavin Hailes, 41, brought his sons Ralphie, 12, and Joseph, 8, to try to meet the royal couple.

He said they arrived early to get to the front and then waited through hail and rain before the sun came out as the prince and princess arrived.

Mr Hailes said the flood did not affect them personally but said it was "horrific" and "devastating" for Pontypridd which was hit twice by floods.

Lisa Maunder, 46, said she was "really proud to have them come to Pontypridd".

"It lifts the spirits of everyone," she said. "[Pontypridd] is a bit of a dying town so I think it's a nice thing to have people come here, spend money and look after all the businesses.

Patricia Thomas said her grandson Harrison was able to give Catherine a sunflower as she walked past.

The princess asked him how to grow them, to which he responded "you plant them".

Prince William also reminisced with people in the crowd about his visits to the town 20 years ago, and another when he was very young about 40 years ago.