Claire Jones has been rubbing shoulders with the royals since she was 16-years-old when she played for the Queen during a civic dinner in Wales.

But the harpist admits that it would take quite a bit to top performing at William and Kate's wedding.

The wedding of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge on April 29 2011 fell just a day before Claire was due to hand over her position as official harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales.

Claire said: "I was flattered to be asked. Kate took my CDs and chose the repertoire. I had not met her before but I had met Prince William. I remember being in prime position on stage at Buckingham Palace with all the guests below, and the wedding filmed for TV. It was surreal and lovely.''

During the harpist's time with Prince Charles she performed more than 180 engagements for him, including one to ones with the Queen. Claire also became an ambassador for the Prince's Foundation and even took tea with the Queen.

"It was very high profile and I remember the audition in front of the Prince. He stood about a foot from my harp. It was daunting, but I had dreamt about this moment,'' she said.

"He was very lovely and very supportive of a young Welsh artist,'' she said.

The royal connection helped Claire notch up a number of recordings that topped the charts.

Today she is part of a musical partnership with her drummer/percussionist husband Chris Marshall, and they are bringing their latest show, Hands of Fire, to Swindon this month.

Musically the harp and the drum are total opposites, a case of two worlds collide, but in the hands of Claire and Chris there is a fast and furious alchemy that explodes into a virtuosic volcanic eruption.

The musical high jinks, which are aimed at all ages, are played out in front of a multi media screen with full on lighting and production with the harp at the centre.

"It is a visual feast for eyes and ears,'' said Claire.

Chris' plays Narimba drums, vibraphone and a variety or drums from around world. He is a sought after musician for the West End shows, both for playing and composing. He has written music for television including advertisements such as the jewellery company Clogau, who made the royal wedding rings. Claire is now the face of Clogau Gold of Wales.

Chris wrote a special song for Claire called Bluestone, it was during a very dark time for the harpist when she was fighting to recover from ME. She was diagnosed in 2013.

"I had pains in my muscles, it was like an electric shock, it was fatigue and flu-like symptoms that never went. I got back from touring and I was in so much pain, I collapsed in A and E. It was my lowest point when I was bedbound and needed to be fed and bathed, but I recovered fully, and now I want to speak out as a world ambassador for ME. I want to show it is possible to get better,'' said Claire.

To complete her happiness Claire and Chris have their own special production, a15-week old baby called Cadi.

"She loves to watch me play the harp, she likes the movement, but her dad wants her to be a drummer,'' said Claire.

The duo are releasing a new album, This Love, on Friday, July 28, and are about to embark on a 90-date arena tour.

Tickets to Hands of Fire at Swindon's Arts Centre on Friday, June 23 at 7.30pm are £15 from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk - Flicky Harrison