Welsh leaders to roll out the red carpet for King Charles and Queen Camilla as royals mark 25th anniversary of the Senedd
- The Royal Welsh will form a Guard of Honour for the royal couple in Cardiff
Welsh leaders will roll out the red carpet for King Charles and Queen Camilla as the royal couple mark the 25th anniversary of the Senedd.
The 75-year-old monarch and Camilla, 76, will be greeted with a Guard of Honour by The Royal Welsh when they arrive at the parliament building in Cardiff on Thursday.
It will be the first time His Majesty will have seen the military unit since he was appointed their Colonel-in-Chief on St David's Day on March 1.
Primary schoolchildren from schools across Wales, a civic line-up, the Llywydd, presiding officer, Elin Jones and Vaughan Gething, the First Minister of Wales, will also greet the royal couple.
The King's harpist, Mared Pugh-Evans, will play in her first performance since being appointed in her new position as Charles and Camilla enter the Siambr - the debating chamber.
The country holds a special place for Charles with him previously being the Prince of Wales for 64 years.
In his last visit to the Senedd in September 2022, he gave a historic speech in Welsh and spoke of how close Wales was to his mother's heart as he received a motion of condolence following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Welsh leaders will today roll out the red carpet for King Charles and Queen Camilla as the royal couple mark the 25th anniversary of the Senedd (Charles and Camilla visit the Senedd in 2022)
Charles and Camilla last visited the Senedd in September 2022 (pictured), receiving a motion of condolence following the death of the late Queen
The Llywydd will make opening remarks, followed by Mr Gething and the party leaders.
Two poems written by Aron Pritchard will then be performed, one written when he was a school pupil to mark the first official opening of the then National Assembly in 1999 and a new one written for this event - Mr Pritchard is now a member of staff at the Senedd.
A choir from a local primary school, Ysgol Treganna, will also perform.
The King will then give a speech, marking the 25th anniversary of the Senedd, after which the Llywydd will close the session.
Entering the Cwrt, Charles and Camilla will be introduced to members of Senedd staff who have worked at the parliament for 25 years, or who are 25 years old.
They will also meet members of the Senedd.
Before leaving, the King and Queen will have the opportunity to meet members of the community who have contributed to key moments in the Senedd's history, including the petitioner who successfully started a campaign for carrier bag charges, and Welsh Youth Parliament representatives.
King Charles, with the Queen Consort, speaking after receiving a Motion of Condolence at the Senedd in Cardiff in 2022
The 75-year-old monarch and Camilla, 76, will be greeted with a Guard of Honour by The Royal Welsh when they arrive at the parliament building in Cardiff (Pictured leaving the Senedd in 2022)
It will be the first time His Majesty will have seen the military unit since he was appointed their Colonel-in-Chief on St David's Day on March 1 (Pictured greeting the public in Cardiff in 2022)
Charles waves as Camilla smiles as the couple attend the ceremonial opening of the sixth Senedd
Charles listens as he receives a Motion of Condolence at the Senedd in 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II
The Any Body Can Choir will perform in the background, which is made up of children who would not ordinarily get the opportunity to try musical activities.
Charles and Camilla last visited the Senedd in September 2022, receiving a motion of condolence following the death of the late Queen.
They also visited the Senedd in October 2021 with the late Queen. The visit marked the opening ceremony of the sixth session of the Senedd.
Throughout this year, the Senedd will be celebrating and reflecting on its 25 years and looking to the future.
Planned activities include an exhibition, in partnership with the National Library of Wales Political Archives, displaying items from key milestones in the past 25 years, and an exhibition featuring members of the community who have contributed to the Senedd's story so far.
Last week Charles and Camilla appeared to be in high spirits as the sipped a glass of whisky during a visit to Edinburgh.
King Charles and Queen Camilla raised a glass of Duncan Taylor whisky to mark the 900th anniversary of the City of Edinburgh last week
Her Majesty, 76, appeared to take a liking to the Scottish whisky, which has its origins in Glasgow
75-year-old King Charles similarly appeared to enjoy the afternoon tipple in Edinburgh Castle
The Queen sipped a 52-year-old liquor and agreed 'that hits the spot' as she joined her husband to celebrate the city's 900th birthday.
The monarch, wearing his King Charles III Tartan Kilt, also took part in a short Ceremony of The Key as he was welcomed inside the castle.
The City of Edinburgh Band played a specially written piece of music composed by PMaj Lowther of Queen Victoria School called 'King Charles III Welcome to Edinburgh Castle' as the royals were driven up the hill Crown Square.
A brisk wind whipped round the castle amid brief rain showers and Camilla was heard saying: 'I'm hanging onto my umbrella.' Charles told one guest: 'I hope you don't get blown away'.
