Hands-on visit for Charles

The prince visited timber-framed Harvard House

Prince Charles has visited Britain's national collection of pewter in Stratford-upon-Avon.

He was welcomed by about 200 people who had lined the streets of Shakespeare's home town.

Inside Harvard House, the prince saw the pewter collection which has items from the Stuart, Tudor and Windsor royal households.

He wore a pair of white gloves to inspect some of the pieces, including a plate used at the banquet of one of Henry VIII's weddings, and a commemorative bowl to mark the prince's own investiture in 1969.

He was also in the town to chair the annual meeting of the board of governors of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

He said: "We need to remind ourselves from time to time why we are here and we are here to put Shakespeare on the stage in the very best way possible.

"And the way we do it so well gives me an enormous pride as its president and chairman."