Charles III, who was the Prince of Wales for more than six decades, was received this Friday with displays of affection (but also some protests) in Cardiff, for a final tribute by the Welsh to Elizabeth II. In a bilingual speech at Sened (the regional parliament), the king said in Welsh that the country had “a special place” in his mother’s heart. On his return to London, he joined his brothers at the Vigil of the Prince, next to the coffin, this Saturday it was the turn of the eight grandchildren. The wait to pay the final tribute to Isabel II reached 24 hours.
“Like my beloved mother before me, I know we all share a love for this special country,” confirmed Charles III in Wales. As in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, it reiterated its “commitment to the well-being of the people” and pledged to “continue to work for this purpose” along with local political representatives. The visit, which included a meeting with the head of government, Mark Drakeford (who is from the Labor Party and Republican), and a religious ceremony at Llandaff Cathedral, marked the end of the new monarch’s journey through the four nations that are part of the United Kingdom.
The king, who has been Prince of Wales since he was 10 (although he wasn’t invested until he was 20), said he considered it a “privilege” to be known as such for “so long”. The title, given to the heir to the British throne since the 14th century, has now passed to his eldest son William.
But not all Welsh people are happy with this idea, with more than 25,000 people signing a petition to end the title once and for all. “an affront to Wales and a symbol of historic oppression”. As early as 1969, the inauguration of Carlos had brought protests, something the king does not want to repeat with his son, as he foresees a smaller event. He recalled his son’s “deep love” for Wales, where he spent several years becoming an Air Force helicopter pilot in Anglesey.
A group of anti-monarchist protesters were present outside Cardiff Castle during Charles III’s visit. “It’s not my king,” the posters read, with some cheers at the departure of the monarch, who was cheered by hundreds of others.
Source: DN
