THERE were kisses for a prince in Newport yesterday when Prince William visited the city as part of his 21st birthday celebrations.

The future Prince of Wales and his father Prince Charles were cheered and treated to a rendition of Happy Birthday by hundreds of their loyal subjects. The two princes officially opened a £1 million day centre for Newport Action for Single Homeless on George Street.

And Prince William is giving the charity a financial boost with the announcement that it will be one of two beneficiaries from the sale of his official 21st birthday portraits. The pictures are released on his birthday tomorrow.

Richard Frame, director of NASH, said: "The proceeds of Prince William's birthday photograph can help us to change people's lives completely."

But of the many girls in the crowd outside the centre dreaming of Prince William, only plucky Pill councillor Laura Buchanan-Smith got a kiss.

She said: "I said 'Welcome to Wales and Happy Birthday. If you weren't so tall I'd give you a kiss.'

"He bent down, gave me a peck on the cheek and the crowd erupted! The weather was dull and we decided to brighten things up.

"He did kiss me but he didn't turn into a frog. "It was an important day for Newport and a very important day for Pill and NASH."