According to a report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on October 15th, British King Charles III praised the 'sense of belonging' of the Welsh people. He officially marked the beginning of the seventh term of the Welsh Assembly together with Queen Camilla.
This visit is the first official meeting between the King and Chief Minister Rhon Ap Iovers since the Welsh Party won the election. The Welsh Party is a political party with a strong republican tradition.
Approximately 30 protesters demonstrated continuously at the steps of the Welsh Parliament, and one person was arrested for alleged violation of the "Public Order Act". During the visit, protest chants such as "It's not my king" and "Down with the crown" were audible.
Additionally, Wales' national poet Hanan Issa was unable to attend the ceremony as planned. This was because officials from the Welsh Assembly refused to allow her to perform a poem for the event, and her performance was cancelled.
The king said in a speech at the Welsh Assembly Hall that he "has always felt extremely honored and proud to have had such a special connection with Wales, its language, culture, and scenery for most of my life."
He said: “The character and identity of Wales are always based on the strength of its regions, as well as the trust, service, and harmonious neighborliness found in these regions. This is the unique Welsh concept of connection, a profound link between place, people, culture, and belonging.”
"In the process of advancing government work, we know that you will always remember and draw inspiration from those common strengths, which serve the people in these most unique corners of this planet."
Appa Ioos stated that this ceremony marks a "new chapter" in national democracy, and is an "unprecedented" opening ceremony for the Welsh Parliament.
The Chief Minister said that the expansion of the Welsh Assembly to 96 members in the May elections represents an “important moment in the continuous evolution of Welsh democracy”. He stated that this change has strengthened the Assembly’s “review capabilities”.
A briefing released to the media before the event stated that Welsh national poet Hanan Issa would recite poetry during the ceremony.
On Wednesday, Isaa posted on Instagram that her poem "Growth" was rejected on the grounds that the ceremony was "non-political".
Isa said that the poem, among other topics, also mentioned Gaza and transgender healthcare; her second version used a “more abstract language,” but it was also rejected.
Isa said that the task briefing she received required her to “praise” Welsh parliamentarians and their “elected achievements, while reminding them of their commitment to the people of Wales”.
Iса added, “I am even more disappointed. This is a hall for political discussions, and that precisely shows that political discussions presented in the form of poetry are not welcome.”
The Welsh Assembly Committee stated: "After a creative process, we concluded that this poem was not suitable for this occasion. However, we respect the artistic independence of the Welsh national poet, and continue to admire and value her work."
The BBC stated that this meeting with the leader of the Welsh Party marked an important and symbolic moment.
After the Welsh Assembly elections in May, the Plaid Cymru party led by AP Iorwth took control of the Welsh government, replacing the Labour Party that had been in charge of every government since the decentralization in 1999.
This Welsh party leader said in an interview with Politics Home in 2025 that he does not believe in “kings and princes”, but that this is not his “political priority”.
He said that he understands why monarchy is still “important” for many Welsh people, but “there are clear reasons to believe that the title of Prince of Wales should be relegated to history.”
