A Royal Visit

On Tuesday, 3rd February 2026, we were deeply honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales to celebrate the rich heritage and craftsmanship of Welsh textile manufacturing - a tradition we are immensely proud to uphold at Melin Tregwynt.

In the days leading up to the visit, there was a wonderful sense of energy and anticipation across the site. Walls were freshly painted, workspaces carefully tidied, and our team prepared to demonstrate the traditional skills and craftsmanship we use every day to create our much-loved fabrics.

Upon arrival, The Princess was warmly welcomed by Louise, Director, and James, Site Manager, who began a tour of the mill. We were especially delighted to see Her Royal Highness wearing a vintage Welsh tapestry coat - a thoughtful and elegant tribute to the very heritage we celebrate.

Throughout the visit, our team had the pleasure of sharing the intricate techniques behind Welsh double cloth weaving, guiding The Princess through each stage of the process - from initial design and warping, to tying-in, mending, sewing, and finally, the finished product.

First stop - the mill
Our skilled mill team were honoured to showcase the craftsmanship and time-honoured techniques that have defined our much-loved Welsh double cloth fabrics for over a century.

Holly began by presenting the first stage of the process at the warping wheel, where Knot Garden Draig was carefully being warped.

Lydia and Gina then guided Her Royal Highness through the intricate art of hand-tying in, joining the new warp of Vintage Star Blossom to Vintage Star Cynefin with exceptional precision and care.

Finally, Sean demonstrated Knot Garden Copper on the loom, explaining that he had shared this very same process with The Princess’s father-in-law, His Majesty King Charles III, during our previous royal visit in 2014.

Mending
Once the fabric leaves the mill, it is entrusted to our quality department, where patience, precision and an unwavering attention to detail ensure that every fabric is perfect. The art of mending demands exceptional skill, particularly in double cloth, where perfection must be achieved on both sides of the fabric.

Our mending team proudly represents three generations of the same family. Paula, third generation, guided The Princess through the careful process of identifying a warp breakage in our Vintage Star Cynefin. With double cloth, any imperfection must be meticulously corrected on both layers of the fabric’s pocket. Where a warp thread is missing, it is delicately rewoven by hand using a fine hook - a task requiring both attention to detail, and patience.

The Princess rose gracefully to the challenge of repairing a fault herself, accomplishing it with remarkable skill. So impressed was Paula that she remarked, “You’ve got the skills” - a moment warmly captured by the media and shared in headlines around the world. 

Sewing
In our sewing department, our skilled machinist, Cindy, demonstrated how each carefully cut piece of fabric is folded, stitched and finished with its label - the final stages in bringing our products to life.

The Princess showed particular interest in the distinctive stitching of our Broadstripe blankets, and Cindy explained the precise machine techniques used to achieve their beautifully defined finish.

Sewing is a craft deeply rooted in Cindy’s own family history: her grandfather was a tailor, and her mother created exquisite wedding dresses. As with our mending team, hers is a story of generational skill, care and dedication to craft.

Elsa, one of our talented makers, then shared how our much-loved lavender hearts are handcrafted, along with a preview of our soon-to-be-released - and adorable - Dragon.

Finished product and the last stop
Sophia, our Head of Design, took The Princess through the design process for creating our patterns and colourways as well as our finished fabrics. 

The tour concluded with a much-needed refreshment break and a spot of retail therapy in the shop. Finally, we were honoured to present The Princess with a Vintage Star Clay blanket for her new home, a Cerigyn scarf to keep her warm on future royal engagements, and a selection of woollen treats for the children.

What the royal visit means to us
Our little mill in rural Wales welcomes visitors and textile enthusiasts from around the world - and to now be recognised by Catherine, The Princess of Wales, means the world to us.

We felt immensely proud that Melin Tregwynt was chosen for the royal visit and deeply honoured that the care, craftsmanship and quiet dedication woven into every fabric were recognised by a champion of British textiles.

The visit cast a welcome spotlight on the unique skills and enduring traditions of the Welsh textile industry, and on the vital role they play in inspiring the next generation of makers, weavers and creatives.

Watch the tour here. 

Images credit: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace