King Charles III and Queen Camilla faced anti-monarchy protesters as they arrived for the ceremonial opening of the seventh Senedd in Cardiff, Wales. The demonstration took place as the royal couple arrived for the significant parliamentary occasion.
Anti-monarchy protesters gather as King Charles and Queen Camilla open the Welsh Parliament
According to Town & Country and Wales Online, demonstrators gathered outside the Senedd with placards. One of the placards displayed the messages “Down with the Crown” and “Not My King.” Another banner called for “a Socialist republic of Wales.” As the royal couple entered, protesters sang “Yma o Hyd,” a Welsh nationalist song whose title means “We’re still here.”
As police monitored the demonstration, some attendees also challenged the protesters. The occasion marked the first time King Charles had opened the Senedd as monarch. The King had previously attended the inaugural ceremony in 1999 when he was still the Prince of Wales.
In his address, the King spoke about his special connection with Wales. He focused on unifying factors such as language, culture and landscape. “I’ve always felt immensely privileged and proud to have had such a special connection with Wales,” he said, according to the BBC.
The King also discussed topics such as community and belonging. He described the Welsh identity as a bridge between place, people and culture.
The ceremony included a tribute to Aberfan, where a coal-tip disaster killed 144 people in 1966. The victims included 116 children. The King acknowledged the survivors in the audience and praised the strength and spirit of the Welsh people.
The occasion also gained attention after Hanan Issa was banned from the ceremony. She is the National Poet of Wales. Issa revealed that her poem “To Grow” had been deemed too political because it centered on Gaza and trans healthcare.
