The Princess of Wales was heard telling volunteers at a community garden in Wales today that she has been growing her own plums and that she would send them her recipe for plum jam
The Princess of Wales has promised to send her recipe for plum jam to young gardeners.
Kate heard how young volunteers at a community garden in Wales were growing their own plums and turning them into jam, and promised: “I’ll send you my plum jam recipe so you can try it.” She also revealed that she is learning to forage in Norfolk, with her three children left impressed by a “huge” puffball mushroom she had found near their home. “The children thought it was fascinating,” she said
The Prince and Princess of Wales made a joint visit to Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland, near Pontypridd in South Wales, where they were given a tour of the woodland walks and homegrown produce. The garden, which was badly flooded in 2024 and has bounced back with the help of volunteers, is intended to be a welcoming place for the local community to enjoy nature.
Kate greets the crowds in Pontypridd (
Image:
Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
It fits in with one of the Princess’s passion projects, encouraging people into the outdoors, with nature activities for children. The couple laughed as they were shown “Bug-inham Palace”, an insect conservation area, and joined a group round a fire to make balms out of plants.
The revelation that Kate, 43, has been making her own jam follows Meghan Markle’s foray into the preserve market, sending pots of home made jam under the name of her American Riveria Orchard brand. Meghan was forced to ditch the name after running into a catalogue of trademark issues, choosing to rename the venture ‘As Ever’. Meghan has been marketing the new brand on her personal Instagram account which has so far amassed two million followers.
The garden overlooks the River Taff and the A470, with volunteers describing it as a haven in an otherwise urban community. The Prince and Princess, who had changed into a brown jacket, long skirt, and high-heeled boots, both wore daffodils, celebrating their first joint away-day in Wales since the Princess’s cancer treatment. They were greeted in tha garden by Helen Williams, community development manager, and Dawn Parker, a volunteer.
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William and Kate at the Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland (
Image:
PA)
Helen admired the daffodils, and Prince William joked of his wife: “Her one is bigger than my one.” They were given a history of the garden by Kaci Pucknell, a volunteer, and a short walking tour taking in raised beds, polytunnels, and natural landscaping. Introduced to a group of young volunteers, the Princess asked: “What sort of things to do you get involved in?”
One young woman told her that they were growing plums on a tree, pointing it out behind them, with the Princess exclaiming: “I just saw it!”
Prince William asked about the flooding during Storm Bert last year, which covered the garden and left furniture floating away, and whether there are many similiar outdoor projects in the area. “Do you like getting outdoors?” he added. “It’s so good isn’t it.”
“Do you think there is enough access to nature,” the Princess asked.
Kate offered to send volunteers her jam recipe (
Image:
PA)
“We were just hearing that this isn’t just about nature it’s also about wellbeing. Do you feel that?” The Prince asked whether they were “bringing their friends down”, adding: “You have a few hands on deck now!” Before moving to the next area, the Princess remarked on the changing seasons with talk turning to plum jam-making once again.
William said it was “amazing” and Kate offered to send her recipe, leaving young volunteers delighted. The couple were then introduced to adult volunteers, including Vanessa Matthews who made Prince William laugh by telling him she had seen him as a young boy – on the television.
“This morning I’ve had a number of people say they met me [when he was very young] and I had to say I’m sorry, I don’t remember!” he replied.
The couple were given a tour of the woodland walks and homegrown produce (
Image:
PA)
Martin Phillips, who has done dry stone walling on the site, joked that he would build the Prince and Princess a castle for next time they visited, with William joking that he hoped it would be on higher ground. The garden had flooded again last week. The couple paused to sit in an ornate wooded sculpture with seating inside, which Kate declared “so creative”.
They then joined a group around a fire, with potato and leeks boiling in a pot over it. The Princess spoke to Jody James, from charity Coedlleol (which translates as “small woods”), about foraging. “We both love the smell of a fire,” said William, as Kate put her hand on his back. As thick smoke wafted over them, the Princess joked: “Until you’re in it.”
The couple were shown the plants used to make balm including plantain, smelling them and asking where they come from. The Princess told Jody that she had been foraging in Norfolk, recently finding a mound of puffball mushrooms, which can be edible and are known for their meaty texture. “She said she was interested in that kind of sustainability,” said Jody afterwards. “She’s been doing her own foraging in Norfolk.”
The Waleses, who travelled by train, finished the engagement just a few minutes late, with encouragement from their security team. “I’m sorry, we’ve got to catch a train,” William told volunteers as they left. “They’re getting a bit panicky!”
Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland was established in January 2021, when work began to clear a site that was overgrown and full of debris from flooding. Together with Pontypridd Town Council, volunteers rejuvenated the site where it is now used for activities including gardening, woodwork and weaving. After floods in December left it completely underwater, members of the community restored the garden from near-devastation.
