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Thousands line streets to welcome King Charles and Queen Consort to Wales
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KING CHARLES and the Queen Consort have visited Cardiff for their first official visit to Wales since the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Royal couple arrived by helicopter on Friday morning and were greeted by a 21-gun salute, before attending a service of prayer and reflection at Llandaff Cathedral.
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The couple then visited the Senedd where they received a Motion of Condolence before meeting with Senedd Members and members of the Welsh Youth Parliament.
The King and Queen Consort then arrived at Cardiff Castle, for their final engagement.
At the castle, King Charles held a private audience with the First Minister Mark Drakeford and the presiding officer, before attending a reception hosted by the Welsh Government.
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After the engagement, King Charles and the Queen Consort greeted members of the crowd in the castle grounds before departing back to London where the King will hold a vigil at the Queen’s coffin with his brothers and sister.
A KING FLYS IN
King Charles arrived in Cardiff via helicopter from his Gloucestershire home of Highgrove following a day of rest after a week of duties since the death of the Queen.
He and the Queen Consort were greeted by a gun salute at Cardiff Castle as they set foot on to Welsh soil.
Hundreds of people are gathered in Llandaff near to the Cathedral, where King Charles III and the Queen Consort will soon arrive for a service of remembrance.
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LANDAF CATHEDRAL
A fanfare of trumpeters from the Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh greeted the King at the cathedral’s west door before Mr Drakeford gave a reading from the Old Testament.
King Charles III and the Queen Consort sang a number of hymns during the service, including traditional Welsh song Cwm Rhondda.
Archbishop of Wales, the Most Rev Andrew John, delivered an address to the congregation – which included Prime Minister Liz Truss in her first visit to Wales as the new Prime Minister – in both English and Welsh.
Paying tribute to her “extraordinary legacy of service and devotion”, the archbishop said the Queen had transformed the monarchy and provided a reassuring constancy through the decades.
Britain’s Prime Minister Liz Truss is greeted by Dean of Llandaff Cathedral Michael Komor upon her arrival for a Service of Prayer and Reflection for the life of Queen Elizabeth II
The archbishop said the late Queen’s skilful use of “soft power” came to the fore during her visits to Aberfan after the disaster there in 1966 when the community found her presence “deeply consoling”.
The hour-long service included hymns Pantyfedwen (Tydi A Wnaeth Y Wyrth), God is Love Let Heaven Adore Him and Cwm Rhondda and their visit to Llandaff ended with King Charles and the Queen Consort meeting schoolchildren in the crowd as they left the cathedral.
SPEECH IN THE SENEDD
King Charles III said Wales held a “special place” in the Queen’s heart as he gave a speech in the Senedd.
He addressed members of the Welsh Parliament in a remembrance event at the Senedd as part of the King and Queen Consort’s tour of the UK nations.
In a bilingual speech, King Charles gave the Senedd his “heartfelt thanks for your kind words”.
He added that it had been a “privilege to be Prince of Wales for so long”.
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The King said Prince William, who was appointed Prince of Wales last week, had a “deep love” for the nation.
He said the “ancient title” dated to the time “of those great Welsh rulers like Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, whose memory is still rightly honoured”.
Thanking Members of the Senedd for their condolences following the death of the Queen at the age of 96 last week, the King said that “through all the years of her reign the land of Wales could not have been closer to my mother’s heart”.
King Charles said in Welsh: “Roedd lle arbenig i Gymru yn ei chalon,” which translates into English as “Wales had a special place in her heart”.
“Fel fy mam annwyl o’m blaen, rwy’n gwybod ein bod ni oll yn caru’r wlad arbennig hon,” which means “like my beloved mother before me, I know we all share a love for this special land”.
Welsh speakers said he spoke in clear Welsh, which he learned in Aberystwyth in the 1960’s
SOME BOOED THE KING
The reaction of the crowds that lined the streets of the Welsh capital was largely warm, but he was booed as he entered Cardiff Castle by anti-monarchy protesters and there were small demonstrations at Llandaff Cathedral and the Senedd building.
Charles is not universally popular in Wales and his announcement that William is to be made Prince of Wales has been greeted with anger by many. Some see it as a symbol of English oppression over Wales.
Laura McAllister, professor of public policy and the governance of Wales at Cardiff University, said: “Having the Queen’s support helped add gravitas, status, legitimacy and profile to an institution that was crying out for it at the start. I think Charles will approach his engagement with devolution in the same way.”
Auriol Miller, the director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs, said: “It is heartening to hear the King make clear his intention to serve the whole of the union.”
There was a small protest outside the Senedd but a larger one at the gates of Cardiff Castle, where Charles had a private audience with Drakeford.
Banners featured the slogans: “Abolish the Monarchy”, “Citizen not subject” and “Democracy now”. Glyndŵr flags were flown and one man held up a placard saying: “End Prince of Wales title.”
Organisers had said the protest would be a silent one but there were boos as the King entered the castle. One protester, Ryan, from Newport, south Wales, said: “The monarchy is a feudalistic anachronism. Passing power on others by virtue of inheritance does not strike me as compatible with the principle of democracy. We should rethink.”
News
Plans submitted for homes for the elderly in Milford Haven
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A COUNCIL scheme to build 24 affordable homes for the elderly at the site of the former Motor World building in Milford Haven has been submitted to planners.
W B Griffiths & Sons Ltd, on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council, is seeking approval for the construction of a new residential redevelopment to comprise 24 affordable apartments for the elderly at 70A-80A Charles Street.
It is proposed to build 21 one-bed apartments and three two-bed apartments at the four-five storey building, along with a communal residents’ lounge on each floor, 10 on-site parking spaces, soft landscaping and trees.
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The proposed building will be four-storeys from Charles Street to the north and five-storeys from Barlow Street to the south due to the change in topography from north to south.
The former Motor World site was cleared in 2018 to enable redevelopment, with planning permission granted on the site for the development of 15 affordable apartments for over-55s in 2020.
The area had been an eyesore for several years before demolition; former councillor Stephen Joseph saying at the time the flats scheme would fill “a great big ugly hole in the town centre that’s been there a long time now,” adding at the time: “The previous building was an eyesore.”
Back in 2021, site contractors WRW construction, which had a number of projects ongoing in Pembrokeshire, including building 33 affordable homes on the site of the former Johnston CP School, as well as work in Tiers Cross, was put into administration by its directors under what was described as, ‘significant financial stress’.
The latest application, submitted through agent DPP Planning, follows a public consultation earlier this year.
DPP Planning, in its consultation statement for the latest application, has previously said: “The council has now instructed W B Griffiths, a Pembrokeshire-based construction company, to develop the site subject to a number of changes.
“The main change is to increase the number of apartments on site to 24 to make best use of the site by increasing the availability of affordable homes for over-55s.”
In its new supporting statement, which references flats for the elderly, it says: “In March 2023, Pembrokeshire County Council re-tendered the scheme to a number of contractors based on the original scheme, but with a revised brief to increase the number of dwellings. This initiated a significant material amendment to the scheme. The new brief increased the number of apartments from 15 to 24 to be achieved within the footprint of the original scheme.”
It adds: “The design proposals aim to place a new building within Charles Street which respects the existing character of the street in terms of form, scale and materials, but which also delivers a building, which is immediately recognisable within the street through its design quality and the sense of place it creates.”
The application will be considered by planners at a later date.
News
Former Wales first minister Vaughan Gething will stand down at next election
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FORMER First Minister Vaughan Gething has confirmed that he will step down at the next election and does not intend to pursue a role in his successor’s cabinet.
The Cardiff South and Penarth MS stepped down from his role as First Minister in July after four of his cabinet ministers resigned. Speaking at a constituency event this evening, Mr. Gething informed party members that he will not seek re-election in 2026.
In a statement released tonight, Mr. Gething said: “The unwavering support of local members throughout my 13 years of representing them has been a significant source of strength, particularly during these recent months. I take pride in having worked alongside them since the late 1990s, first as a campaigner and then as a councillor before my election to the Senedd. I have always been mindful that the platform I hold in public life is built on the foundations of our movement.”
He added that he had informed First Minister Eluned Morgan of his decision not to seek a role in her upcoming cabinet reshuffle, which is expected soon.
“Eluned is an exceptional public servant, always putting the country first. We have collaborated for many years, and she deserves full support for her bold vision for both Wales and our party. I will continue to serve my constituency until 2026 and remain committed to advancing the causes of social justice that initially inspired my journey into public service.”
Reflecting on his career, he said, “As a Welshman born in Zambia, it has been a profound honour to serve in the Welsh Government for over a decade. The opportunity to make meaningful change alongside inspiring individuals and movements has been an immense privilege. It is something I will always hold dear.”
Mr. Gething’s resignation as First Minister came after 118 days in the position, with his departure finalized on August 6th, when Eluned Morgan was named as his successor. His tenure marked him as both the first black leader of Welsh Labour and the shortest-serving Welsh First Minister in the history of devolution.
The 50-year-old former lawyer has represented Cardiff South and Penarth since 2011 and held key roles, including Economy Minister and Health Minister, during the pandemic under Mark Drakeford’s administration.
First Minister Eluned Morgan expressed her gratitude, saying, “Vaughan Gething has made an indelible contribution to Wales during some of the most challenging times we’ve faced.
“From navigating us through the pandemic to securing critical investments like the semiconductor industry, Vaughan has consistently delivered results, advancing devolution in Wales.
“He has always been a team player, offering support and kindness to myself and others, even during moments of intense pressure. I have no doubt that Vaughan will continue to make a significant impact on our country in the future.
“Thank you, Vaughan, for everything you have done for Wales.”
News
Pembrokeshire crematorium megalith plans submitted
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PLANS for an extension to Pembrokeshire’s Parc Gwyn Crematorium, with a new memorial garden featuring a stone megalith “in a more natural setting,” have been submitted to county planners.
Pembrokeshire County Council, which owns the existing Parc Gwyn Crematorium, near Narberth, is seeking permission for a change of use of adjacent agricultural land to a memorial garden, along with associated ancillary development including access, parking, an entrance canopy, two shelters, a megalith stone structure, seating, footways, bird nest box poles and landscaping.
A supporting statement accompanying the application states: “The proposal involves creating a garden designed with the objective of providing a nature-rich experience for those wishing to gather, reflect and remember. Seating areas, paths and contemplative zones are to be sensitively interspersed within a wildflower meadow and trees.
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“The existing crematorium site is set amongst formally presented memorial gardens with large lawn areas, rockeries, trees and shrubs. With greater awareness of the nature emergency, it is anticipated that the demand for more natural settings in public services will increase. Therefore, by proactively providing a more natural memorial space, Pembrokeshire County Council is taking a long-term approach to green infrastructure provision.”
It adds: “The natural memorial garden would be an extension to the outdoor space currently available at the Parc Gwyn crematorium site, with provision for burial of ashes and memorials also provided.
“The provision of this space would see the transformation of an agricultural monoculture pasture to a setting in which nature is allowed to thrive. This would represent a diversification of opportunities for quiet reflection in a natural setting, better reflecting the different needs of those served by the Parc Gwyn site.
“The layout of the path network has been designed to allow different lengths of looped walks from the entrance point to the natural memorial garden. In addition to surfaced paths, there will also be mown paths within the meadow areas. By offering a range of options, the garden can cater for diverse user preferences and needs, enhancing the overall value and appeal.
“The structures within the garden (shelters, seating and memorials) are to be designed to fit with the setting of a natural garden. These are to be of natural materials (wood and stone) and rustic in style to blend into the landscape. The majority of the site is to remain as open space to preserve the natural character and provide ample room for memorial activities.”
The scheme will be considered by county planners at a later date.
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