King hails his special connection with Wales as he opens the Seventh Senedd
The King and Queen attended the ceremonial opening of the Seventh Senedd in Cardiff Bay on Thursday, the first time he has opened the Welsh Parliament as monarch, addressing its expanded membership of 96 in the Siambr.
The King and Queen travelled to Cardiff on Thursday for the ceremonial opening of the Seventh Senedd, the first time Charles has opened the Welsh Parliament since becoming monarch. They arrived at Cardiff Airport and drove to the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, where they were received with a Royal Salute and a Guard of Honour was found in front of the building.
At the Senedd they were received by Josephine Homfray, the Vice-Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, by Huw Irranca-Davies, the Llywydd or Presiding Officer, by the First Minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, and by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Councillor Michael Michael, according to the Court Circular published in The Times. Chants of "not my King" could be heard as the couple greeted the First Minister and the Llywydd outside the parliament, PA Media reported.
Inside, the King and Queen met party leaders before entering the Siambr, the debating chamber. The King addressed the Members of the Senedd, now 96 in number following the expansion of the assembly, and signed a commemorative parchment. The First Minister replied.
I have always felt immensely privileged, and proud, to have had such a special connection with WalesThe King, addressing the Senedd
In his address, the King spoke of his long association with Wales, its language, its culture and its landscape. "I have always felt immensely privileged, and proud, to have had such a special connection with Wales," he said.
He also spoke of belonging, and of Aberfan. Members of the Aberfan community were present at the ceremony, and the King, the Queen and the Prince of Wales will visit Aberfan next week to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the disaster, in which a coal tip slid downhill and engulfed a school, killing 116 children and 28 adults.
After the ceremony, the King and Queen met members of the Welsh Youth Parliament, Senedd Commissioners and Members of the Senedd in the Cwrt, the reception area of the building, and then met representatives of community and youth organisations from across Wales in the Neuadd.
Later, the First Minister was received in audience by the King at the Wales Millennium Centre in Bute Place, Cardiff, the Court Circular recorded.
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