Prince Charles visits food producers at Aberaeron

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall enjoy a joke - and a chip

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visited a fish and chip shop during the third day of their summer tour of Wales.

The prince joked with the crowd outside the shop in Aberaeron, Ceredigion, asking them if it was the queue for fish and chips.

The royal couple signed a plate, as well as trying some chips.

They were greeted by a crowd of 200 people and also tried beer and cheese made by local producers.

At the New Celtic fish and chip shop, owner Heather Thomas asked the prince to sign a plate, which will have pride of place on a wall of fame.

The shop already has signed plates from Wales rugby coach Warren Gatland and players George North and Stephen Jones.

The royal couple also sampled some chips.

Paul Davies, who served them, said: "The prince and the duchess asked me if the fish was caught locally and if all the food was sourced locally.

The royal couple signed a plate at the New Celtic fish and chip shop

"They tried some chips and Camilla enjoyed it so much she went back for a second chip.

"The prince also asked if the staff take the food home at the end of the day."

Regulars at the chippie who were there to tuck in to an early lunch also called out questions to the royal couple.

"How's your mum and dad?" asked pensioner Sheila Barrows, to a somewhat taken-aback prince.

"I mean your dad, how's he?" she added.

"Much better, yes, he is much better. He is in marvellous shape," the prince answered.

The royal couple then moved onto a farmers' market next door, where the prince tried some beer from Pen Lon cottage brewery, based in nearby Llanarth, and also some Saval cheese, produced by John Savage of Teifi Cheese.

Brewery owner Stefan Samociuk said: "The prince tasted the chocolate stout and said it went very well with the cheese."

They were entertained by a harpist Nest Jenkins, 13, from Lledrod near Tregaron, and a choir from Aberaeron primary school.

Nest, who has been playing the harp for five years, said: "The prince said to me that if he ever wanted a harpist, he'd remember me."

More than 200 people turned out to see Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall in Aberaeron

The royal couple also visited The Hive, a bar and restaurant owned by brothers Rhys and Rhodri Davies.

It also sells fresh fish and the duchess was given some Dover Sole.

Later, the prince visited the restored Felin Ganol water mill in nearby Llanrhystud which still produces flour.

And the duchess hosted a tea party at the royal home in Carmarthenshire for Ty Hafan children's hospice.

The prince also joined farmers, local shopkeepers, hoteliers and other business representatives during a meeting of the Cambrian Mountains Initiative Partnership Board at Talbot Hotel, Tregaron.

While there, he presented a tourism ambassador plaque to the landlords for their work promoting the area.

The prince acts as the initiative's president in its work to help sustain traditional upland farms and rural communities.

During the second day of the visit the <link> <caption>royal couple visited community groups in Brecon</caption> <url href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18777577" platform="highweb"/> </link> .

And on Monday they <link> <caption>visited people recovering from the floods in Ceredigion</caption> <url href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18743876" platform="highweb"/> </link> .

The Prince of Wales is shown the restored Felin Ganol Mill by miller Andrew Parry