Prince Charles, 71, visits a holiday business in Wales

The Prince of Wales met staff at a travel and holiday business in Wales in his first engagement in the country since the coronavirus lockdown.

Prince Charles, 71, visited family-run Edwards Coaches in Abercynon in Mountain Ash, south Wales, today.

He heard how staff had helped residents from 90 homes to safety after devastating flooding in nearby Nantgarw in February.

Charles, who is among the first royals to begin picking up royal engagements again in recent weeks, was seen keeping a safe social distance as he chatted with staff.

The Prince of Wales met staff at a travel and holiday business in Wales in his first engagement in the country since the coronavirus lockdown

Prince Charles, 71, visited family-run Edwards Coaches in Abercynon in Mountain Ash, south Wales, today

During the visit, the royal was also told how the business had been hit during the Covid-19 pandemic and that it expects major losses for the next financial year.

His last official engagements in Wales were on February 21, including a visit to Pontypridd town centre after it was badly affected by the floods.

Dressed in a grey suit, lilac blouse with a matching flower and toting an umbrella, Charles looked upbeat during the visit.

Last week the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall revealed they have no plans to retire from their royal duties any time soon.

He heard how staff had helped residents from 90 homes to safety after devastating flooding in nearby Nantgarw in February

Speaking at another engagement in their busy diary last week, Charles and Camilla were chatting with some of the 700 workers at an Asda distribution centre in Bristol, when the duchess made the rare comment about stepping away from public life.

During the socially-distanced visit yesterday, which took place in a marquee outside the main building, the couple spoke with Richard Sigward, 74, a warehouse operator who has been working at Asda for 17 years and refuses to retire.

'The duchess was saying to me she definitely agrees that if people can work and are happy to do it, they should carry on,' Mr Sigward said. 'She said she refuses to retire herself. The prince was the same.'

Charles, who is among the first royals to begin picking up royal engagements again in recent weeks, was seen keeping a safe social distance as he chatted with staff

The comments seem to put paid to any suggestion that Prince Charles would consider stepping aside and to let Prince William become King, despite being the oldest heir apparent in the history of the British monarchy.

It comes after a royal biographer claimed last month that the Queen's reign is 'effectively over' due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the virus 'practically putting Charles on the throne'.

Andrew Morton, author of Diana, Her True Story, which exposed the failed marriage of Charles and the Princess of Wales in 1992, said coronavirus has 'done more damage to the monarchy than Oliver Cromwell'.

During the visit, the royal was also told how the business had been hit during the Covid-19 pandemic and that it expects major losses for the next financial year

His last official engagements in Wales were on February 21, including a visit to Pontypridd town centre after it was badly affected by the floods

The claim followed reports that Her Majesty, 94, may remain in self-isolation 'for months' and never return to regular frontline royal duties as the government continues to ease the coronavirus lockdown.

The Queen has put all her public engagements on hold while she resides with her husband Prince Philip at Windsor Castle.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Morton claimed: 'It's terribly sad but I can't see how the Queen can resume her job. The COVID-19 virus isn't going away soon and will be with us for months if not years.'

Dressed in a grey suit, lilac blouse with a matching flower and toting an umbrella, Charles looked upbeat during the visit