King Charles speaks Welsh in first visit to country as monarch

King Charles has addressed the Senedd in Welsh on his first visit to the country as monarch.

After receiving condolences from the Welsh parliament following the death of the Queen, the King said he was “deeply grateful”.

King Charles, who was Prince of Wales for 64 years, said in Welsh: “I know the Senedd and people of Wales share my sadness. Wales had a special place in her heart.”

Funeral rehearsals held in the early hours – live updates

The country’s First Minister Mark Drakeford paid tribute to the Queen and described her reign as “unrivalled in its length and reach”.

Earlier, the King and Queen Consort attended a remembrance service for the Queen at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.

As they arrived in Wales by helicopter, the King waved to cheering crowds as a royal gun salute was fired.

The couple were then driven to the cathedral where Prime Minister Liz Truss was among those present at the service.

The Archbishop of Wales, Bishop of Bangor Andy John, made the King chuckle after he said to the service: “We will never look at a jar of marmalade again in the same way,” referring to the Queen’s performance with Paddington Bear at her Platinum Jubilee.

Afterwards, the King and Queen Consort shook hands with members of the public in Cardiff, who greeted him with cheers and flowers.

King Charles then travelled to Cardiff Castle, where he meet Mr Drakeford. The first 2,000 people in the queue at the castle were allowed entry.

While thousands of people were expected to join the crowds, a protest against the monarchy was expected outside.

Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts,  Google Podcasts,  Spotify, Spreaker

The trip marks the next leg of the monarch’s home nations tour after visiting Northern Ireland and Scotland, following the Queen’s death.

Read more:
Queue to see Queen lying in state could be paused
The sadness and opportunity of ‘working’ state funerals
Meghan joins Royal Family as Queen leaves Buckingham Palace

After his visit to Wales, King Charles will return to London for a vigil beside the Queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall alongside Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew at around 7.30pm.

Meanwhile, thousands of people will continue to queue to see the Queen lying in state at Westminster Hall.

The queue to see the coffin was shut for six hours on Friday morning after reaching capacity – stretching 4.9 miles with a wait time of 14 hours, the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport said.