Couple shocked by a royal visit after flooding. William and Kate visited their home in Sion Street, Wales.
Kevin and Zsuzsanna still feel amazed by it all. Kate and William sat with them in their Sion Street living room. Kevin is a butcher and a fisherman. He and his son run a market stall in Pontypridd.
Kevin remembers the day the river overflowed last year. He said it rose higher than ever before that day. Their neighbor warned them about the river, shouting that the river bank had broken.
Kevin quickly moved his wife’s car and then returned to the house. The water was already three feet deep. They then focused on protection, securing the gates, windows, and doors.
Most of the water got into their kitchen, but they managed to keep it to just a couple of inches. Kevin put furniture on blocks to protect it. He spent hours removing water from both the house and the street.
Kevin called the royal visit special and found it strange to have them at home. Zsuzsanna said it was lovely to meet them. She watched William grow up on TV and was happy they chose to visit them, saying they seemed very friendly.
The royals asked them lots of questions and wanted to know about the flooding. They seemed genuinely concerned about what happened. Kevin hopes they can get others to help, as he knows flooding happens everywhere, not just in Wales.
Zsuzsanna said the royals asked how they could help and they also shared some ideas. Kate and William have a river nearby where they live. They told Kevin and Zsuzsanna what they had done there.
Kevin said their ideas won’t really work. The royals had a flood plain, so they could flood it to relieve river pressure. Kevin and Zsuzsanna have no flood plain and they live in a valley, which makes it difficult.
The couple joked afterwards about souvenirs. They might sell the cup William used and they considered selling the sofa where the royals sat.