THEIR MAJESTIES THE KING AND QUEEN WILL VISIT WALES
Thursday 11th July 2024
Engagement 1:
Their Majesties The King and Queen will visit the Senedd on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.
Upon Their Majesties’ arrival at the Senedd, the Royal Welsh will form a guard of honour. This is the first time His Majesty will have seen them since the King was appointed their colonel-in-chief on St David’s Day.
The King and Queen will be greeted by children representing primary schools from across Wales, a civic line up, the Llywydd of the Senedd (Presiding Officer), the Rt Hon. Elin Jones MS, and the First Minister of Wales, the Rt Hon. Vaughan Gething MS. Inside the Senedd, Their Majesties will meet party and parliamentary leaders.
As Their Majesties enter the Siambr, Mared Pugh-Evans, who has been appointed the King’s harpist, will play – this will be her first performance in her new position.
The Llywydd will make opening remarks, followed by the First Minister 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. Aron Pritchard is now a member of staff at the Senedd. A choir from local primary school Ysgol Treganna will also perform.
His Majesty will then give a speech, marking the 25th anniversary of the Senedd, after which the Llywydd will close the session.
Entering the Cwrt, Their Majesties will be introduced to Senedd staff who have worked at the parliament for 25 years or who are 25 years old. Their Majesties will also meet Members of the Senedd.
Before departure, 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. 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.
Engagement 2: to be announced.
