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Prince Charles meets his number one fan
23.10.09
The Prince of Wales's "number one fan" burst in on the unsuspecting royal today as he picked up a string of sausages at a local butchers.
Hayley Thomas, 28, attracted the startled Prince with shouts of "hey Charles, Prince Charles" before snapping his image with her camera phone.
Her unannounced intrusion came as the Prince was making a low-key visit to Llandeilo, in west Wales, where he toured local shops, including the butchers.
But it also triggered an immediate response from his security entourage who gently manhandled the royal-obsessed snapper outside on to the pavement.
Unabashed, she then took up a position full square in front of a gaggle of waiting cameramen and photographers moments before Charles exited the butchers.
Ms Thomas then burst forth a second time to shake hands with the Prince, who smiled and appeared to enjoy the attention, much to the discomfort of his security detail who quickly led him away.
Afterwards a jubilant Ms Thomas said: "I live in Llandeilo and was born here and having the Prince visit the town is fantastic. I am his number one fan.
"He was lovely. I think he recognised me from when he arrived in the town by car because I waved at him as he passed and he waved back."
She added: "I think of him as a hero. He is a hell of a guy actually.
"I shook his hand and it was all smooth and lovely. I feel as if I've met a saint. I feel blessed."
The Prince continued his tour of the town, calling in on a series of shops selling local produce.
During his visit to J H Cooper Ltd, the town's traditional butcher, he was presented with a freshly produced string of plain pork sausages packed in ice.
Earlier he had toured the town's civic centre where several dozen stands exhibited an array of home-produced cakes and pastries.
He also spoke to Paul Davis, 60, who was exhibiting rare varieties of apple cultivated by Dolau-Hirion Fruit Trees.
He said the Prince had been very interested in his work and had popped a small apple into his pocket to munch on later before he left.
"He liked the look of the Pitmaston Pineapple which is very fruity and, as its name suggests, has a pineapple-like flavour.
"I said 'take one if you want' and he put it in his pocket to eat later."
