'Isn't it encouraging to see the good old vinyl' Prince Charles buys a record in Rhayader shop
Report by Hannah Thomas
Prince Charles has been supporting a local business in Wales today by purchasing a vinyl record at a hardware shop in Rhayader.
When buying Andrea Von Kampen's album, That Spell, the Prince is overheard saying "isn't it encouraging to see the good old vinyl."
He was visiting the family-run Hafod Hardware store to celebrate independent businesses and show support for the local high street.
The Prince chose to visit the premises after seeing its Christmas advert that went viral in 2019. It featured a then two-year-old Arthur Jones, who is the great-grandson of owners Alan and Pauline Lewis.
The video has been watched almost three million times on YouTube.
The hardware store is one of the oldest businesses in Rhayader, dating back to 1895, and is now one of the "must-see" attractions of the town.
During his visit to the store, Prince Charles met the Lewis family, including their son Tom Jones, who helps run the business.
Mrs Lewis said: "What an amazing honour it was to have Prince Charles in our shop. He said it was lovely to come and see an old-fashioned family-business still going and passing on from generation to generation."
Mr Lewis said: "And it's all because he saw our Christmas video and wanted to come and see the shop."
During his visit to Wales, the Prince also stopped off at Aberystwyth University, where he was once a student. He was there to open the institute's new Veterinary Education Centre.
His Royal Highness said: "I'm very glad indeed to have this opportunity of coming back to Aberystwyth. I have a horrifying feeling it's 52 years since I was here. But I have very special memories of that time.
"I'm delighted to have a very small part to play in helping to open it (the school), having met some of the students and interrupted their studies most successfully.
"I do hope they will have great success in the future and the school will flourish."
After having a look around the new building, he then signed the same visitors' book he wrote in when he enrolled as a student in 1969.
When he studied at Aberystwyth, Prince Charles learned Welsh and gave his investiture as Prince of Wales in the language.
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