On his first visit to Wales as king, King Charles III delivered a speech in Welsh after arriving with Queen Consort Camilla and being greeted by cheering crowds after a ceremony of prayer and contemplation for the late monarch at Cardiff’s Llandaff Cathedral.
After receiving a Motion of Condolence within the house on Friday afternoon, the former Prince of Wales visited members of the Senedd and Youth Parliament, stopping to spend time with each person.
The First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, spoke to the Queen’s “lifelong engagement with Wales and its people” and discussed the current state of transformation that Wales is going through.
The King responded to the sympathy letters for his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, initially in Welsh and expressed his “deep gratitude” for them.
After the heartfelt memorial ceremony for his mother, he shook hands with well-wishers outside Llandaff Cathedral.
A nervous-looking five-year-old child gave the Queen Consort a flower while accompanied by her mother, which was a lovely moment.
Following the ceremony, when Charles and Camilla arrived to Cardiff Castle for a reception with Mr. Drakeford, they were once again welcomed with applause and flag-waving, albeit there were a few scattered boos from a tiny number of anti-monarchy protesters.
After speaking with Mr. Drakeford, he had a meeting with members of a charity before once again greeting enthusiastic Royal supporters outside.
The Royal Welsh infantry regiment’s mascot, William Windsor II the goat, was also met by the King.
“I am very thankful for the words of sympathy which so movingly paid honour to our late sovereign, my dear mother The Queen,” Charles remarked in his statement to the Senedd.
The King said, “Throughout the whole of her reign, my mother’s heart could not have been any closer to the country of Wales.
I’m sure mom was very proud of all your accomplishments and that she also felt your pain acutely through difficult times.
“Being a part of a place that sparked so much passion must unquestionably be considered the greatest success.”
I’m determined to follow the same example in the spirit of the motto Ich dien – I Serve, which I always strive to live by.
“I take up my new responsibilities with tremendous appreciation for the honour of being able to serve as Prince of Wales,” the King said.
The ancient title, which dates back to the era of those illustrious Welsh kings, is now passed on to my son William, whose love for this region of the world is made all the stronger by the years he has spent living here.
Anti-monarchy protesters could be heard booing while holding signs reading “We want a democracy, a Welsh republic” as Charles and Camilla rode in a motorcade to Cardiff Castle after visiting the Senedd.
The rally, organised under the banner Real Democracy Now, was meant to be a silent protest, but at times, the Cor Cochion, a socialist choir based in Cardiff, led the crowd in song.
Prior to boarding the Royal limousine that was waiting to transport him to Llandaff Cathedral, the former Prince of Wales and the Queen Consort had just arrived in Cardiff at approximately 11.15 a.m.
Charles, the Prince of Wales for more than 53 years, left Highrove, where he had spent the previous day grieving his mother the Queen, by helicopter.
As the King drove his shining maroon Rolls-Royce through the city, cheers from the crowd of well-wishers on his way to the church transformed into shrill, full-throated screaming.
When His Majesty arrived at the cathedral, Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford and religious leaders gave him a warm welcome before leading him inside.
Welsh songs were sung by the crowd, which included Liz Truss, the prime minister, and Robert Buckland, the secretary of state for Wales. One of the favourites was Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer.
The Right Reverend Andrew John, the Archbishop of Wales, praised the monarch and said that she “had the capacity to connect to the man or woman on the Clapham Omnibus, or here, the Merthyr Tydfil Omnibus.”
God Save The King was sung as the ceremony came to a close, and then Charles was led outside to sign the guest book.
After seeming to get agitated earlier this week when attempting to sign the visitors’ register at Hillsborough Castle, the king used his own pen.
The Queen Consort was given a posy as she exited the church by Keira Hillebert, 5, whose parents are from Atlanta, Georgia, in the US.
On the day the Queen died, Keira obtained her British passport after just becoming a citizen.
I shook Queen Camilla’s hand, and Keira assumed she should do the same, so she took Camilla’s hand and introduced herself as Keira, according to her mother Krisi.
She then left, claiming to be chilly. They were extremely kind and kind with her, and Camilla enquired as to why she curtsied so well if she had been practising.
Then, more than 40 kids from five elementary schools in the Cardiff area welcomed the royal couple.
Charles and Camilla received mugs with their respective original artwork printed on them from Dexter Garland and Ella Noble, two 10-year-old students from St Julian’s Primary School in Newport.
When Queen Elizabeth’s reign started 70 years ago, the school first opened.
The Queen expressed her gratitude and promised to prepare a cup of tea in it, according to Ella.
“I’ll remember that for the rest of my life,” she said. It was the finest experience of my life.’
Charles and Camilla were then welcomed with raucous applause and screams of “God Save the King” as they strolled around the Cathedral Green to meet people of the neighbourhood.
Many people praised them, and they also received flowers and presents.
The first royal guests arrived at 3.30 in the morning, and several people gathered to get a look of them.
Over the din of the throng, a lone male voice at one point yelled, “We pay £100 million a year for you, and for what?”
Owain Glyndwr Day, observed on September 16, honours the life and contributions of the “rebel” who is thought to be the last native Welsh Prince of Wales.
When Glyndwr rebelled against English king Henry IV in 1400, significant damage was done to Llandaff Cathedral.
The environment outside Cardiff Castle, according to Laura White, 55, was “wonderful.”
She recalled the 25th jubilee, when she was a Brownie, and how she spent hours waiting on a chilly sidewalk before catching a sight of the Queen.
Despite having only just returned to Cardiff, I knew I had to be there today.
“The ambiance is fantastic. Everyone is just having a good time and wishing the new King luck.
Bruce McGee, 79, and Fay Price, 70, from Long Beach, California, are tourists in the UK and have developed royal fever.
We didn’t sure what to anticipate, but it is great, Mr. McGee remarked. Brits are a highly proud nation.
“We simply had to be here today when we realised this was occurring,” Ms. Price added. You don’t frequently get the opportunity to witness a King in person.
Julie Morris and Wendy Huish, sisters, joined the hordes of people gathered in front of the Castle.
The Queen has always been there, so when she passed away, foster care provider Ms. Morris, 72, said: “We were really heartbroken.” She was a building.
But having a king is a lot of fun. Even calling him “King Charles” is weird, yet the Prince of Wales was a wonderful person.
We’re really here today in honour of our mother, Jean Allen, who was an ardent patriot. She was one of those folks that camped out all night to be in front of the line.
It’s a beautiful day to be a part of, remarked Sister Ms. Huish.
‘I have seen the new king now twice since he’s been crowned since I was in London this week, and it was extremely amazing to be here today,’ said Jonny Lynch, 29, of Aberdare.
It was wonderful to see his automobile pass by, so I put my crown on particularly since I wanted to dress up for the occasion.
In order to honour the Queen and return to Cardiff in time to greet the new King, Cardiff resident Anne Grainger, 58, travelled to London on Friday.
I simply wanted to be here today, she said. It is significant. I’m here to demonstrate to him that you have support from your people.
The nine-year-old twins Jack and Andrew were taken to the castle by their mother Clare Windsor from Flintshire, North Wales, by train at 4:22 in the morning.
She told BBC Wales: “I wanted to bring the boys to be a part of it because it won’t happen again. It’s a part of history.”
It’s a sad occasion, I know. Even though King Charles has waited his whole life for this, it is still quite upsetting. We will just have to wait and see, but I hope he will make a good King.
One of the people invited to welcome the King at the castle was Team GB legend Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.
It was “about looking back at her majesty’s life in terms of service and devotion but also looking forward to the future,” she said of the ceremony.
We have a new king, and maybe a new way of operating as well. It’s an opportunity for society to consider what it wants from its monarchy.
Charles was invested as Prince of Wales in 1969, and his mother the Queen will be buried wearing her Welsh gold wedding ring, which was made so she would “always carry a piece of Wales” with her. The Royal family has a strong connection to Wales.
Real Democracy Now demonstrations, according to First Minister Mark Drakeford, will just be a “footnote” to the major events, so they won’t interfere with the monarch’s visit.
People have a legal right to protest, he added, adding that other points of view exist. Additionally, he asked South Wales Police to respect free expression and handle any demonstrations in a “proportionate” manner.
Sally Davis, the principal of the neighbouring Howells school, joined the crowd of Royal supporters outside the cathedral and stated, “I am thrilled to be here this morning with my children from years five and six.”
Because this is a momentous occasion, I wanted the kids to be there. The whole school is there, and everyone is gathered around the church.
We shall all remember that day for the rest of our lives since it was a momentous point in time.
The new King’s Rolls-Royce drove past in the area at 11.22am, softly against the roar of the people, while social worker Jane Rhys-Blades, her physiotherapy wife Sue, and their eight-year-old daughter Gabriella enjoyed the scene in Llandaff High Street.
I wouldn’t have missed being here today for anything, Ms. Rhys-Blades added. We have been waiting for a while now because, well, isn’t this a historic moment? This is a memory we will cherish forever, Sue added.
“We came here so Gabriella may one day tell her kids about this,” they said. I still have the book my father gave me when he was there at King George V’s coronation. They are important.
“Her capacity to persuade, to use soft power – no less important, no less authoritative – reflects the smart and deliberate consideration she brought to her post,” said Archbishop John in his presentation.
She was a confidante that prime leaders believed to be trustworthy. She had an unrivalled perspective and the capacity to observe the distant scene due to her devotion to governmental concerns, her understanding of global events, and the length of her reign.
We also saw a king who could surprise and excite us, he said. We’ll never again see a jar of marmalade the same way, and we’ll never again watch Mr. Bond without thinking back to that remarkable jump into the abyss in 2012, either.
“Her late majesty was also a towering presence on the global stage, reflecting a continuity and stability, but, maybe more than that, values—values which are shared across countries and cultures.”
‘And in Wales, that talent was never more clear than when she visited Aberfan in 1966 – that community finding her presence very soothing – and Her Majesty would return to that community four more times,’ the Archbishop remarked of her capacity for human connection.
Additionally, he cited the Queen’s last Christmas speech from the previous year, in which she discussed the depth of her own faith and emphasised how the tale of Jesus’ birth is “universally compelling.”
It happened after Mr. Drakeford discussed the anticipated protests with the Today show on BBC Radio 4, stating that this was not the week for such complaints and discussion to “emerge.”
People do, however, have that right, and in his opinion, it will be utilised with caution and will just serve as a footnote to the prevailing emotions of the time.
In response to concerns over the treatment of protesters in other regions of the UK, Mr. Drakeford emphasised that he had faith in the police to deal with demonstrations in a “proportionate” manner.
It ought to be in proportion. People’s rights need to be acknowledged.
“I have complete faith in the South Wales Police, who have handled with this kind of event effectively many times before.”
The next Prince of Wales is not expected to study Welsh as his father did, according to the Welsh First Minister.
Mr. Drakeford acknowledged that learning the language as an adult may be a “difficult” but said that “nobody will be expecting miracles” from Prince William.
The language is a vital component of Wales and is used by millions of individuals every day in their daily activities. It’s not always the simplest language to pick up afterwards.
The next Prince of Wales will wish to acknowledge the significance of the Welsh language and the role it plays in creating a modern Wales’ identity.
He said that any interest the prince showed in the language would be understood and “appreciated” by the Welsh people.
Nobody will probably anticipate that someone will suddenly become fluent in Welsh, in my opinion.
Nobody won’t be looking for miracles,
Mark Drakeford said that while he had talked to the new Prince of Wales, they had not specifically addressed the investiture process.
He did, however, seem to strongly imply that the investiture need not adhere to the guidelines established by the 1969 ceremony that saw Charles appointed prince of Wales.
Wales in 2022 is substantially unlike from Wales in 1969.
“I don’t think it would be the right course of action to look back on that event and view it as some sort of pattern that you would wish to pick up and copy.
“I believe the new Prince of Wales will want to take some time to establish himself in that position, to work out where he can make the most contribution to creating a successful Wales of the future,” the author says.
‘He did say to me that he wanted to take on his new responsibilities slowly,’ Mr. Drakeford recalled of his conversation with the prince. ‘He did say that he wanted to give time for his own knowledge of Wales, the things that matter in the Wales of today, to be fully established, for him to think about where his own contribution could be most powerful. And I believed that was a very wise course of action.
The Welsh First Minister said he didn’t think there would be a chance for a meeting with the new Prime Minister during Friday’s proceedings.
“I think it’s unlikely that there’ll be that opportunity,” Mark Drakeford told Sky News.
As you might expect, these events are meticulously planned in advance, and every second is taken into account.
Llandaff will take office as the new prime minister today. I don’t think it will be a chance to meet her for the first time.
Charles will meet with humanitarian organisations and religious leaders at Cardiff Castle, one of three venues he will visit on his full-day tour of the city, after having a private meeting with First Minister Mark Drakeford.
The event attendees are expected to stand while holding posters that read “Why a Monarchy?” and “Real democracy now.”
The population in Wales should evaluate whether a future without the monarchy is feasible, according to campaigners.
Following the arrests and threats of action against protesters carrying placards reading “Not my King” in other cities, they have urged the Welsh Government and Cardiff Council to persuade South Wales Police to respect their democratic right to protest.
Activist and former Plaid Cymru Senedd member Bethan Sayed said: “Many of us felt forced to reply as soon as King Charles III chose to proclaim that Prince William should become Prince of Wales, so soon after the death of the Queen.”
“We need to talk about Wales’ future and what we want it to look like.”
“People tell us that now is not the appropriate moment to debate this problem, but when the monarchy changes from the current King to a new King, now is the appropriate time to do so.
Fairness, equity, and the Wales we want to create for future generations are at stake.
Speaking to PA, Ms. Sayed said, “We completely understand that this is still a tough period. We all have departed family members.
We don’t want to cause trouble, but we do want to have our rights to hold and express a different opinion acknowledged.
Because if we really call ourselves a democracy, then it is completely acceptable.
Under the slogan “Real Democracy Now,” a range of organisations, including trade unions, Welsh independence movements, and republicans, will spearhead the demonstration.
Ms. Sayed clarified that anybody who wants to participate in a demonstration against imperialism is welcome to do so.
Adam Johannes, a left-wing activist who recently organised rallies against the rising cost of living in Cardiff, said: “My own mother died away not long ago, so I have great sympathy for a family in their particular suffering.
But when we have these parades and other large gatherings of the public, they function somewhat as political activities.
And yet, one side of the discussion is informed, “Now is not the time,” while other initiatives, such as the declaration that Prince William will succeed Diana as the next Prince of Wales, are being hurriedly implemented.
So, “we believe it’s appropriate to also make our thoughts known when there are these gatherings, which it seems to us like almost like PR events to pump up support for the monarchy.”
According to a Labour spokesman for an Independent Wales Representative, “the royals would inherit millions of dollars tax-free while 67% of Welsh people will live in fuel poverty.”
“Their existence weakens our democracy, thus in the end we struggle for an independent, socialist Republic of Wales.”
Cerith Griffiths, a trade unionist, said that a lot has changed since Queen Elizabeth was installed more than 70 years ago.
Significantly, Wales now has its own Parliament and is able to adopt laws that affect the people who reside there.
Several provisions of the Trade Union Act were disapplied in Wales in 2016, but the Westminster government is now overturning those judgments.
“If we genuinely cherish democracy, then we need to have a conversation about the role of the monarchy and whether or not allowing the government of another nation to veto choices made democratically here in Wales is really suitable for the 21st century.”
More than 25,000 people have signed a petition asking for the Prince of Wales title to be abolished in less than a week.
Adam Price, the leader of the pro-independence Plaid Cymru, has said that a discussion should be conducted “in due time.”
In an independent Wales, the party contends, citizens need to have the option of deciding whether to continue having a member of the royal family serve in that capacity.
Just than a week after it was launched, a petition opposing the Prince of Wales title has gathered 25,000 signatures.
Plaid Cymru is a pro-independence party. A moment will come when the title of the Prince of Wales may be the subject of a public discussion.