The One Where a Princess Came to Visit!

The Princess of Wales came to visit Cardigan this week to learn about our historic textile industry.

The Princess of Wales made a high‑profile visit to West Wales this week, focusing on the region’s historic textile industry. Her engagements included Melin Tregwynt in Pembrokeshire and Hiut Denim in Cardigan, both of which are local business celebrated for their craftsmanship and cultural importance.

Hiut Denim – Cardigan

The first stop on the royal visit was to our little town of Cardigan. I mean, who wouldn’t come here first! Kates destination was Hiut Denim, a well known and highly respected jeans manufacturer in Caridigan, who can boast high profile customers such as the Princess and her sister in law, Meghan Markle, as well as The Arctic Monkeys. Hiut is known for reviving a industry that once upon a time thrived in Cardigan, bringing the industry back to our town. While she was here, aside from making friends with the office pooch, Kate tried her hand at sewing a Made in Wales label onto a pair of jeans, before being gifted a pair for William, to keep up with his brother Harry, another customer of Hiut!

Melin Tregwynt – Pembrokeshire

After leaving Cardigan, Kate made her was to Melin Tregwynt, a traditional woollen mill in a wooded valley near Castlemorris, in Pembrokeshire. The Princess toured the mill, met weavers, and learned about double‑cloth weaving and the heritage of Welsh blanket‑making. This stop highlighted the mill’s role as one of Wales’s most iconic textile producers, having been in production since 1841, and now being stocked in high end retailers John Lewis. Melin Tregwynt has been successful in keeping the traditional Welsh blanket popular by moving with the times and keeping their designs both fresh and icionic.

Melin Tregwynt blue blanket and cushions