THEIR MAJESTIES THE KING AND QUEEN WILL VISIT BRECON, WALES
Thursday 20th July 2023
Engagement 1:
Their Majesties The King and Queen will mark the Centenary Year of Brecon Cathedral, meeting Cathedral representatives and organisers of the Brecon Choir Festival.
Greeted by local children from Priory Church in Wales, Their Majesties will proceed inside the cathedral and meet members of the community who are involved in the life of cathedral, including Friends of Brecon Cathedral, of which His Majesty was patron as Prince of Wales.
Built in the 12th century, Brecon Cathedral, the mother church of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon, is set in the only walled cathedral close in Wales – with a weekly congregation of 80, it hosts civic and military services.
Proceeding down the aisle, the King and Queen will have an opportunity to meet members of the congregation.
Their Majesties will then be seated for a short programme of music by performers from Brecon Choir Festival, including the winner of the Young Singer Award singing the Benedictus from Rod Paton’s Ascension Jazzmass – the Ascension Jazzmass was originally commissioned to celebrate 150 years of Bishop Otter College.
Their Majesties’ visit to Brecon coincides with the first day of the festival, which takes place from 20th to 23rd July.
The King and Queen will watch a solo performance from the Ascension Jazzmass which is the opening concert of this year’s festival. This will be accompanied by members from the Ascension and Cathedral choirs as well as musicians who are students of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, of which His Majesty was long-standing president as Prince of Wales.
Engagement 2:
The King and Queen will meet members of the local community and celebrate the local volunteering and public service sector at Theatr Brycheiniog, Canal Wharf, Brecon.
Their Majesties will first proceed to a field next to the theatre, situated in the canal basin in the centre of Brecon. Here, the King and Queen will see elements of Brecknock Agricultural Society’s annual show, of which His Majesty was patron as Prince of Wales.
Their Majesties will have the opportunity to see livestock, speak to local food and drink producers and meet representatives from Black Mountains College, a new college based in Brecon with courses specialising in adapting to the climate emergency.
While Their Majesties are speaking to representatives at the various stalls, Aberhonddu Male Voice Choir will be singing in the background.
Concluding the county show aspect of the visit, the King will be invited to add soil to an oak sapling which will later be replanted in Brecon County Showground.
Walking the short distance to the theatre, the King and Queen will join a reception. Guests will include Welsh Coronation Champions, members of Brecon Mountain Rescue Team (of which The Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh was patron), representatives from Brecon Women’s Festival and of the local health service.
Music during the reception will be provided by the Swing Strings Trio – three top Welsh Jazz musicians who are regular performers at the annual Brecon Jazz Festival, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this August.
Following the reception there will be a short performance by Theatr Brycheiniog’s Lunchtime Uplift Choir and the Alive & Kickin’ Community Choir Brecon.
Their Majesties will then be invited to unveil a plaque, marking the visit. It comes more than a quarter of a century after the then Prince of Wales opened the theatre in 1997.
Engagement 3:
His Majesty The King will visit Brecon Barracks, home to 160 Brigade, the regional army command for Wales. Brecon Barracks, Brecon.
Upon arrival, as the Royal Welsh Band march on to the square, His Majesty will be greeted by Brigade Commander, Brigadier Nick Thomas.
Based at the Brecon Barracks, the 160 Brigade have supported the people of Wales during the recent pandemic with UK Resilience Operations Joint Military Command leading on the delivery of support to the Welsh civil authorities. The brigade also stood up as Joint Military Command, Wales, supporting Operation London Bridge and the Coronation of Their Majesties.
The King will have the opportunity to meet Welsh military mascots, including the Royal Welsh Goat, Lance Corporal Shenkin IV and 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards Welsh Mountain Pony, Lance Corporal Emrys Forlan Jones.
His Majesty will then join an outdoor reception. The King will have the opportunity to meet the honour guard, 160 Brigade headquarter staff, Gurkha soldiers, and individuals from the Infantry Battle School.
His Majesty will then be invited to join a photograph, which will reflect the variety of military units and activity in Wales. Before departing the King will sign the visitors’ book.
Engagement 4:
Her Majesty The Queen will meet representatives and staff from Calan DVS, one of the largest domestic abuse charities operating in Wales, at a refuge.
The Queen will have the opportunity to meet clients and understand the work that Calan DVS offer throughout Wales.
Calan DVS is a domestic violence and abuse charity in Wales operating services for adults, children, and young people (CYP) across south, mid and west Wales. Calan’s objectives are to relieve the distress, suffering and poverty experienced by individuals and families exposed to domestic abuse and sexual violence, and to educate the public regarding the causes and effects of domestic abuse and methods of prevention.
The charity was incorporated in 2012 following a merger with Neath and Lliw Valley Women’s Aid followed by a merger with Amman Valley Women’s Aid, Radnorshire Women’s Aid and Brecknock Women’s Aid. As a result of the mergers, Calan has over 70-years sector experience.
Their specialist services include accommodation, community services, and perpetrator interventions.
