The Princess of Wales promised to send her recipe for plum jam to young gardeners during her visit to Pontypridd, in south Wales ahead of St David’s Day on 1 March.
Catherine, 43, heard how young volunteers at a community garden in Wales were growing their own plums and making them into jam. She promised: “I’ll send you my plum jam recipe so you can try it,” before revealing that she is learning to forage in Norfolk, with her three children left impressed by a “huge” puffball mushroom she had found near their home.
“The children thought it was fascinating,” revealed the royal.
The Princess and her husband, Prince William travelled by train to Pontypridd, before receiving a warm welcome as they stepped out for their first joint engagements since the February half-term break.
The visit was delayed by almost an hour due to train disruptions, with the couple sharing a video of their arrival at Cardiff rail station, to the surprise of fellow commuters.
Their first port of call was Pontypridd Market, which has been at the heart of the community since 1805, where the royal couple went head-to-head as they tried their hand at making a batch of traditional Welsh cakes – and the future king thanked TV cook Mary Berry for his baking success.
During their time in Pontypridd, the Prince and Princess also met with local people affected by the severe flooding caused by Storm Bert and Storm Darragh, which hit the region in the space of just two weeks in late 2024.
Catherine announced she was in remission from cancer in January, and the day trip is the latest in a run of appearances since the start of the year, which included a visit to a mother and baby unit in a women’s prison in Cheshire recently.
See the best photos from their outing…
Morning commute
The couple arrived at Cardiff station by train, surprising fellow commuters on the platform.
The Princess, paying tribute to the Welsh flag in a red coat, also carried a tan handbag as she waved at passengers.
Welcome to Pontypridd Market
The couple were greeted by excited locals, waving Welsh flags, as they arrived at Pontypridd Market.
The community is home to a wide range of businesses, spanning from butchers and green grocers to cafés, toy stores, book shops and textile companies.
Meaning behind their flowers
William and Catherine both sported yellow daffodil pins – the national flower of Wales, which is often wore on St David’s Day.
St David is the patron saint of the nation, a Welsh Christian prelate who served as Bishop of Mynyw during the sixth century.
Smiling Catherine
The Princess smiled and chatted with shoppers as she and the Prince toured the market.
The Welsh Cake Shop
William and Catherine stopped at The Welsh Cake Shop, a popular retailer in the town’s market that has been a focal point for shoppers and traders for generations.
The shop owned by Theresa Conner, 46, is well known for its Welsh cakes and the other traditional Welsh tea-time treat of bara brith or speckled bread.
In sync
William and Catherine donned aprons and appeared to be in sync as they rolled out their dough under Theresa’s watchful eye.
“Is it thick enough?” the Prince asked.
Head-to-head?
The pair usually can’t help but engage in a bit of friendly competition during their joint outings.
Catherine looked impressed at her husband’s efforts and said: “Those are so good. How did you do that?”
With flour stuck to the sleeve of his maroon sweater, William smiled and said: “Well I don’t know, my stunning baker skills, Mary Berry taught me everything I need to know.”
The couple appeared with TV baking queen Marry Berry on A Berry Royal Christmas show, back in 2019.
Finishing touches
The Princess placed the Welsh Cakes on a tray, ready to be baked.
Theresa said afterwards: “They were very good. I asked and they said they had never made Welsh Cakes before.
“They were surprisingly very good and both good bakers.
“I gave them a quick demonstration and they took to it like ducks to water.
“I should have taken the opportunity to get them in for St David’s Day. I can do with all the help I can get.”
Royally baked
William then distributed the Welsh Cakes he and Catherine made to children.
The Prince was heard saying: “Welsh Cakes made by us.”
Impact of the floods
At the market’s Fountain Cafe, the Prince and Princess spoke to business owners about how the flooding affected the area.
Outfit details
Catherine wore one of her favourite red Alexander McQueen coats for her trip to Pontypridd. The bespoke double-breasted jacket features black buttons and pocket detailing.
She teamed it with a chocolate brown rollneck, a tartan skirt and long suede boots.
Meanwhile, William looked smart in a burgundy jumper over a blue shirt with navy trousers and a brown blazer.
Standing out in the crowd
After touring the market, the royals were greeted by a large crowd who had gathered to greet them.
Catherine was spotted giving one youngster a high-five as they stopped to chat with members of the public.
Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland
For their second engagement, the Prince and Princess paid a visit to Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland to hear about the site’s impact and how volunteers worked to restore it in the wake of the storms.
Change of outfit
Catherine swapped her red McQueen coat for a cropped tweed Katherine Hooker jacket, she first wore to Cheltenham races in 2007.
She also sported a checked wool midi skirt by Gucci.
