Pembrokeshire is well known for the warmth of its welcome. And that was never more in evidence than yesterday (Thursday) when the county turned out in force for the visit of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.
The royal couple were on a seven-hour whistle-stop tour of the county, visiting several locations in North, Mid and South Pembrokeshire, where, despite the winter chill, excited flag-waving crowds lined the streets to cheer them on.
The centrepiece of the visit was the opening by Her Majesty of County Hall, the new £10 million headquarters of Pembrokeshire County Council alongside the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest.
There they were welcomed by the authority's chairman, Clr. Mrs. Rosemary Hayes, of Saundersfoot, who stated that the royal visit was a "great honour for Pembrokeshire."
"The Queen's engagement diary is extremely full, bearing in mind that she is to celebrate her Golden Jubilee in 2002," she added. "Her Majesty was unable to come to Pembrokeshire next year. However, she was keen to return to Pembrokeshire and this is how the visit came about."
Earlier, however, the couple had arrived in Haverfordwest by Royal Train, before initially heading in different directions to follow separate itineraries.
The Queen first set off north for an hour-long visit to St. Davids, where she opened the newly-restored Gatehouse and Bell Tower, Porth y Twr, and met cathedral staff and helpers, while the Duke of Edinburgh travelled east to visit the family-run Oakwood Leisure Park, near Canaston Bridge.
At Oakwood, he met the McNamara family who established the leisure park in the mid-1980s when they left the agricultural industry on the introduction of milk quotas.
His Royal Highness was in jovial mood as he went on a short tour of the park, before meeting several representatives of other successful farm diversifications, including Folly Farm, Upton Farm Ice Cream, Cwmderi Vineyard, Princes Gate Spring Water and Bakeaway Bakery.
It was then back to Haverfordwest, but before rejoining the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh toured the popular Pembrokeshire Farmers' Market at the town's Riverside Quay.
At County Hall, meanwhile, the couple met members of the public in a walkabout on the car park in front of the building, before council chairman, Clr. Mrs. Hayes, invited the Queen to unveil a plaque to officially open the new headquarters.
Following lunch for 80 guests, the royal couple continued their hectic schedule by again departing for separate locations in Pembroke Dock, travelling on their way through the colourful crowds in Haverfordwest town centre and across the Cleddau Bridge.
Having arrived in Pembroke Dock, the Queen was greeted at the town's new Community School by the leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Clr. Maurice Hughes.
Accompanied by the headteacher, Mr. David Thorley, she then toured the school building, visiting several classrooms and viewing examples of the work of the excited pupils.
Her Majesty was also delighted to visit the school's Sensory Room, specially designed for autistic children, before officially opening the school by unveiling a plaque.
Meanwhile, while all this was going on, the Duke stopped off at the 25-acre Pembrokeshire Science and Technology Park overlooking the Milford Haven waterway at the Cleddau Bridge.
The hi-tech park is the result of a collaboration between Pembrokeshire County Council and the Welsh Development Agency.
The Duke toured the ITV Digital Customer Contact Centre, which employs over 800 people, and before leaving he was invited to unveil a commemorative plaque.
But still there was no respite for the royal couple. As the clock reached three o'clock, it was time to enter the mighty gates of Pembroke Castle for a garden party in a huge marquee erected in the grounds.
There they were welcomed by Major Ivor Ramsden, manager, and Mrs. Ramsden, chairman of the Pembroke Castle Trust.
Some 400 guests were invited, representing a wide range of organisations, charities, business, industry and other aspects of Pembrokeshire life.
After the castle celebrations, the couple eventually left Pembrokeshire about an hour later, leaving behind them indelible memories of an historic day for the county and its people.
Let's hope it won't be too long before they return.