Tata Steel welcomed royal guests the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to its Port Talbot site.

The Duke and Duchess visited the integrated steelmaking site in order to learn more about the importance of Tata Steel’s operations to the UK economy and the important role the company plays in the local community.

The Duke and Duchess visited the training workshops where they met with apprentices, future leaders as well as members of community groups supported by Tata Steel.

The Royal couple were also shown the Hot Strip Mill at the Port Talbot site to see how Tata Steel transforms red hot steel slabs into steel strip before it is further processed for use by customers around the globe.

Tata Steel’s Port Talbot works employs around 4,000 people directly, and many thousands more rely on the industry. The company is recognised as an ‘anchor industry’ by the Welsh Government and is fundamental to the social and economic stability of the region and the wider UK.

Martin Brunnock, Director Strip Products UK, said: “The site and its people are truly at the heart of the UK’s manufacturing industry, with steel made in Port Talbot being used across the world to make cars, cans, buildings, bridges, and sports stadia.

“The Port Talbot site has been producing steel for well over a hundred years, currently producing more than 3.5 million tons of steel a year, and we are aiming to ensure this continues as we give our apprentices and graduates the skills they need to become the steelmakers of the future.”

The visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge follows many previous royal visits to the steel works including Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Margaret, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Prince Michael of Kent.

Also on today’s visit were local leaders Cllr Scott Jones, Mayor of Port Talbot; Cllr Rob Jones, Leader Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council; and Mr. Steven Phillips, CEO Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.