King will speak Welsh on visit to mark 25th anniversary of Senedd

By Victoria Ward

The King will demonstrate his fluent Welsh as he marks the anniversary of the Senedd 25 years after he officially opened it with his late mother.

The King and Queen will visit the Welsh parliament on Thursday, when the monarch will deliver a speech reflecting on the past as well as looking ahead to the challenges of the future, such as climate change.

The couple last visited the Senedd in September 2022, following the death of Elizabeth II.

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Then, in a speech also delivered partly in Welsh, the King expressed his "immense gratitude" for his time serving as Prince of Wales, promising that his eldest son, William, who had inherited the title, also held a deep love for the country.

Since ascending the throne, the King has maintained his passion for Wales and has pledged to continue his long association with the country.

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He famously learnt Welsh while studying at Aberystwyth University and remains fluent, surprising aides recently by seamlessly slipping into the language to chat to a Welsh student on an engagement.

On Thursday, the King and Queen will be welcomed to Cardiff by the Royal Welsh, who will form a Guard of Honour, marking the first time the King will have seen them since he was appointed their Colonel-in-Chief on St David's Day.

They will be greeted by primary school children representing schools from across Wales, as well as various dignitaries including Vaughan Gething, the First Minister of Wales.

Mared Pugh-Evans, who has been appointed the King's harpist, will play for the first performance in her new position.

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After various speeches, poems and a performance by a children's choir, the King and Queen will be introduced to members of Senedd staff who have worked at the parliament for 25 years, or who are 25 years old.

Before leaving, they will be introduced to 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.

The late Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles attended the opening ceremony of the Welsh Assembly on May 27 1999 at Crickhowell House in Cardiff Bay.

Charles spoke in Welsh to the 60 new Assembly members and the Queen signed a special edition of the Government in Wales Act – a symbol of the transfer of powers from Westminster to Wales.

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