The heir to the throne was served by four-year-old Arthur Jones, who starred as the store's manager in an hilarious Christmas ad for his family's business in 2019.

       His parents' shop, Hafod Hardware, is now a must-see for visitors to Rhayader after the advert went viral.

       As well as doing his bit for the local high street, the Prince of Wales visited Aberystwyth University - where he used to be a student - to open its Veterinary Education Centre.

       Charles, 73, spoke to the first cohort of students and unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening of the school.

       Wearing a camel-coloured coat and face mask from Turquoise Mountain - a charity he founded to revive historic areas and traditional crafts - he was greeted by the Lord- Lieutenant of Dyfed, Sara Edwards, the University's chancellor, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, and vice chancellor Professor Elizabeth Treasure.

       The centre on the Penglais campus has been opened jointly with the Royal Veterinary College as Wales' first School of Veterinary

       Science, and is funded by ￡500,000 from alumni.

       Students will spend the first two years at Aberystwyth University followed by three years at the Royal Veterinary College's Hawkshead Campus Hertfordshire.

       They have opp to W will also the opportunity study in Welsh.

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       After touring the centre, Charles got the opportunity to sign the same visitors' book wrote in when enrolled as a in 1969. He I'm very glad 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 [the school], having met some of the students and interrupted their studies most successfully."