Prince Charles visited Hay-on-Wye last week to open the town’s refurbished castle.

The Prince of Wales dropped in at ‘the town of books’ on Thursday, June 7, for the final leg of a Clarence House three-day engagement tour of Wales.

The official opening of Hay Castle, which opened its doors to the public for the first time in its 900-year history this summer, saw the Prince of Wales arrived in Hay Market Square, welcomed by the sound of the Brecon Town Band.

The Prince of Wales meets with members of the public during a visit to Hay Castle in Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales. Picture date: Thursday July 7, 2022.
The Prince of Wales meets with members of the public during the visit (Chris Jackson/WPA-Rota/Press Association Images)

The Prince then climbed the stairs to the main Gate, where His Royal Highness heard from a timber conservationist about the recent restoration works before opening the gate and thereby officially opening Hay Castle.

His Royal Highness then entered the Castle and toured the ‘Portraits of Writers’ display. He then visited the Clore Learning Space and Reading Room, before trying his hand on the 1856 Letter Press and climbing up to the Viewing Platform.

The Prince of Wales officially open Hay Castle by pushing open the oldest gate in situ in the UK in Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales. Picture date: Thursday July 7, 2022.
The Prince of Wales officially open Hay Castle by pushing open the oldest gate in situ in the UK (Chris Jackson/WPA-Rota/Press Association Images)
The Prince of Wales creates a lino print on an 1800's printing press during his visit to Hay Castle in Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales. Picture date: Thursday July 7, 2022.
The Prince of Wales creates a lino print on an 1800's printing press (Chris Jackson/WPA-Rota/Press Association Images)

Throughout the visit, the Prince happily met the Hay Castle Trust team, architects, trustees, donors, volunteers, and children that use the space.

Hay Castle is one of the great surviving defence structures on the border of England and Wales. Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, foundations and individual donors, Wales now has an important heritage destination, a vibrant new centre for learning and the arts, and a space for the community to come together.

Visitors can see and hear stories from the past using smart phones and iPads, enjoy dressing up in medieval costumes created by volunteers, have a go on a 150-year-old Columbian letterpress or watch a three-minute animated history of the castle projected onto the stone walls of the medieval tower.

The new Clore Learning Space is a place for inspiring adult workshops as well as school visits.

The specially designed loans gallery will host touring exhibitions; the inaugural display ‘Portraits of Writers’ features works from the National Portrait Gallery and is funded by Arts Council England.

Atop the tower viewing platform, visitors will be treated to stunning views of the Wye Valley and border landscapes.

The Richard Booth Collection - established as a tribute to the former owner of the castle, and self-declared King of Hay - can be found in his study and includes his crown, sceptre and robe, and the original flag of independence.

Earlier on Thursday, the Prince of Wales had visited Bosherston, Narberth and Lampeter.