Amid great security HRH PrInce Charles - the Prince of Wales - becamethe first Royal visitor to The Dylan Thomas Birthplace at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, Uplands, Swansea earlier this month.

The Prince proved to be a charming guest and took tea in the lounge with house restorers Geoff and Anne Haden, Dylan's granddaughter Hannah Ellis, Welsh Tourism Minister Edwina Hart, poet Peter Thabit Jones and artist Gordon Stuart who painted the last portrait of Dylan which hangs now in the National Gallery in London.

After touring the house (an overstaying his schedule by 20 minutes!) he met John Rhys Thomas and Jeff Towns - past and present chairs of the Dylan Thomas Society - Sian Newman from the Dylan Thomas Prize and Jean Lannigan whose mother Emily Simpson was a maid in the house for five years when she was 15 and Dylan was 16.

The visitor book and commemorative engraved glass plaque are on display in the house.

During the visit it was announced that the Prince will be the Royal patron of DT100 the year long festival in 2014 to celebrate Dylan's birth in 1914 in the front bedroom of the house. Other patrons include Bryn Terfel and Cerys Matthews

Links to news items and photos are on the website