King Charles III received a jubilant welcome in Wales as he concluded his whirlwind tour of the United Kingdom in the week since he became sovereign.
Joined by his Queen Consort, The King carried out engagements in Cardiff, arriving first at Llandaff Cathedral for a service in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.
King Charles spoke with the Archbishop of Wales after the service, who joked that “We will never look at a jar of marmalade again in the same way,” in reference to the now iconic Paddington Bear Platinum Jubilee video.
Next, King Charles travelled to the Welsh Parliament – the Senedd – to give a speech thanking Wales for its sympathies following Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
In a speech at the Senedd, the king spoke of his late mother’s lifelong love of Wales, sharing that, “Through all the years of her reign, the land of Wales could not have been closer to my mother’s heart.”
King Charles spoke in both English and Welsh, promising to do what he can for Wales as king. He said, “I take up my new duties with immense gratitude for the privilege of having been able to serve as Prince of Wales. That ancient title, dating from the time of those great Welsh rulers, like Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, whose memory is still rightly honoured, I now pass to my son, William, whose love for this corner of the Earth is made all the greater by the years he himself has spent here.”
King Charles served as Prince of Wales for 64 years, having been bestowed with the title in 1958 before being formally invested in a lavish ceremony in 1969. Last Friday, he bestowed the title upon his eldest son and heir, Prince William. He touched upon this long relationship as well, noting that “It was a privilege to be Prince of Wales for so long. Now my son, William, will bear the title. He has a deep love for Wales.”
He added: “Having visited the Senedd regularly since it was founded, and having heard your heartfelt words today, I know we all share the deepest commitment to the welfare of the people of this land and that we will all continue to work together to that end.”
Afterwards, King Charles and Queen Camilla travelled to Cardiff Castle and met with Wales’s First Minister and 2,000 members of the public—those who had queued up outside—who were allowed in for the special visit.
With his visit to Wales complete, King Charles will return to London ahead of a Vigil of the Princes tonight at his mother’s coffin in Westminster Hall. He will be joined by his siblings, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex.
