A CARDIGAN business couple were invited to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday (March 5) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the investiture of the Prince of Wales.

David and Clare Hieatt, owners of Hiut Denim Co, were among the guests to rub shoulders with the royal family at the event honouring Prince Charles's contribution to the national life of Wales over the decades.

But there was an extra twist in the tale when the couple were told they had been asked to have a private chat with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – Prince Harry and his wife Meghan.

Meghan’s decision to wear Hiut’s designer jeans during a visit to Cardiff in January last year propelled the company into the global spotlight.

The family-owned Cardigan firm has since been bombarded with worldwide attention, sparking a move to larger premises at Bathhouse Road on the site of the former clothing manufacturer Dewhirst and a global order waiting list.

The firm is currently looking to take on four more members of staff to help cope with demand – both apprentices and experienced machinists.

“It was a great honour to be invited to the event and when we arrived we only then found out that the Duke and Duchess would like to meet us,” said Clare.

“We had no idea that was going to happen and we had 10 minutes to think about it and what to say while we were waiting for them to come through.

“We told her how we had moved to a new factory and were taking on new staff and the duchess said that was exactly what she hoped would happen as part of her support for small businesses which are making a difference in local communities.

“We also talked about how to lessen the impact of denim on the planet. They were both so friendly and down to earth. It was just fantastic.”

The Queen, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall, along with Prime Minister Theresa May, were also present, along with leading figures from Wales, including Falklands veteran Simon Weston, the band Stereophonics, Game Of Thrones star Owen Teale and First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Charles was created the Prince of Wales at the age of nine, on July 26, 1958, and was formally invested with the title at Caernarfon Castle by the Queen on July 1, 1969.

The investiture regalia he wore was on display, including the coronet, sword, ring and rod, as well as the Letters Patent for the creation of Charles as Prince of Wales in 1958.