A ROYAL couple received a warm welcome to Monmouthshire today (9th July) as part of their visit to Wales
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall visited three venues across the county.
Initially the couple visited Humble by Nature Farm, Penallt where they met owner Kate Humble and were shown around her working farm.
After their visit to the farm the pair went their separate ways; His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales went to High Glanau Manor and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Ancre Hill Vineyard.
His Royal Highness requested to visit High Glanau following a conversation with owner Helena Gerrish. Prince Charles, who is very fond of gardening, was shown around the Edwardian gardens by Mrs Gerrish. Alongside her husband, Hilary Gerrish the couple were inspired by the late Avray Tipping to restore the garden to its former glory.
Prince Charles took in the beauty of the gardens and appeared thoroughly impressed by the wide range of colours and flowers, stopping many times to admire the plants.
Mrs Gerrish was thrilled to meet His Royal Highness, she said: "He was charming, really lovely and so easy to talk to. He was very nice.
"He told me he has a special yellow delphinium and that I can request from him should I wish."
While Prince Charles was admiring the gardens at High Glanau, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall visited Ancre Hill Vineyard, Monmouth.
She met dignitaries including Mayor of Monmouth Cllr Graham Pritchard and Deputy Mayor Cllr Terry Christopher, along with the chairman of Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce outside the house of Ancre Hill Vineyard.
Her Royal Highness also met owners Richard and Joy Morris, before being led to the vines by son David Morris, who talked to the Duchess about the grapes method of growing and the low environmental impact techniques used by the vineyard to produce its wine.
She was then shown the new cellar room building, officially opening the eco-friendly building in which the wine is made and stored, and unveiled a plaque to mark the event.
She tried some of the wine - a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir, both from 2014 - and was very complementary about both, describing the white Chardonnay as "very good, it has a very subtle taste" and the red Pinot Noir as "delicious, very interesting."