More than 100 Welsh Guards who provided the guard of honour at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, marched through Presteigne as part of a ceremony granting them the freedom of Powys.

The 1st Battalion Welsh Guards have also been granted the freedom of Bridgend in South Wales and were due to attend a similar event there today.

Hundreds of people lined the streets as the Number 2 Company soldiers paraded in Presteigne at 12.30pm yesterday.

The parade was followed by an inspection and then a march from East Radnor Leisure Centre to the Judge’s Lodgings in Presteigne.

Powys County Council chairman councillor Garry Banks, from Presteigne, and Welsh Guards Regimental Adjutant Colonel Tom Bonas inspected the parade.

And Councillor Banks then presented a Freedom of the County scroll to Colonel Bonas.

The ceremony was then followed by prayers from the Bishop of Swansea, the Right Reverend John Davies.

Councillor Banks said it had been an honour to be part of such a prestigious event.

He said: “I was honoured and proud to see the Welsh Guards marching through my home town of Presteigne to mark the granting of the freedom of the county to the regiment.

“Watching such a special occasion as one of my final duties as chairman of Powys County Council was a fitting end to a wonderful year in office — a memorable finale.”

In the summer of 2009 the Welsh Guards took part in Operation Panther’s Claw in Helmand in Afghanistan.

A number of men were killed during the tour and the regiment said they should never be forgotten.

The granting of the freedom allows the unit to be honoured and entitles them to march through the streets of a town with “bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying”.

It was the first time in three years that a regiment has exercised the Freedom of the County after the Royal Welsh marched through Welshpool in 2008.

The Welsh Guards who marched through Presteigne yesterday also formed a part of the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding at Westminster Abbey in London on April 29.