Prince Charles visits ahead of St David's Day celebrations

Prince Charles made an official visit to Wales on Friday ahead of St David's Day celebrations on Saturday.

The prince began by meeting troops from the 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards - of which he is Colonel-in-Chief - training at Castlemartin in Pembrokeshire.

He also visited Llanelly House, in Llanelli, to see the results of a £7m restoration over the past 10 years.

The royal visitor congratulated those involved in the project and sampled some traditional Welsh cake.

"I can't tell you how impressed I have been and I can only wish the Carmarthenshire Heritage Trust every possible success in other projects," he said.

Claire Deacon, chief executive of the Carmarthenshire Heritage Regeneration Trust, expressed her delight at the Prince's words and enthusiasm during his visit.

Prince Charles met troops taking part in Exercise Pashtun Tempest on the Castlemartin military range

In Llanelli, Prince Charles posed for photographs with young people

The prince is spending the rest of the weekend in Wales in private.

The visit included sharing a joke with some onlookers, the younger ones were in traditional Welsh costume

"It's a massive privilege personally because I have been involved with the project for so long," she added.

"He has always been a supporter of old buildings and it's a great opportunity for us to showcase Llanelli and say we are here, and we are open."

Later the prince went to Merthyr Tydfil where he visited the old town hall which is to reopen on St David's Day after a £8m restoration.

The building is to reopen to the public as a creative industries hub.