King Charles connected with a fellow cancer sufferer this afternoon when he visited the Welsh Parliament in Cardiff with Queen Camilla.
The royal couple visited the Senedd to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the opening of the government building.
On arrival, Charles and Camilla were greeted by the First Minister of Wales, Vaughan Gething, and the Llywydd of the Senedd, Elin Jones.
As well as touring the building with his wife, King Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer in February, gave a speech partly in Welsh to mark the anniversary.
Following this, Charles met with activist Claire O’Shea, who has been diagnosed with stage four leiomyosarcoma (a rare and aggressive form of cancer) and is now receiving palliative treatment to prolong her life.
Pictured: King Charles greets royal supporters as he arrives at the Senedd with Queen Camilla in Cardiff this morning.
She was repeatedly misdiagnosed with IBS, which motivated her to engage with the Senedd and provide evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee to improve care for women in Wales with gynaecological cancer.
In a sweet exchange, Charles asked: ‘Have I given you an MBE?’
Quick as lightning, she replied, “No, but you’re welcome to throw one at me!”
Afterwards, Claire said: ‘I was pleased because I’ve been campaigning against cancer in Wales and knowing what he’s been going through personally and what Princess Catherine has been going through as well, I felt I could connect with them on an issue and I think that’s really helpful.
‘He conveyed his condolences to me and was interested in knowing how successful the campaign was and is being and how it will continue.
“It was a good experience. I never imagined I would meet the royal family and I never thought I would really want to. It’s not something you really think about but I’m really glad I did it, it was really good.”
The King and Queen arrived to loud cheers from the crowd in sunny Cardiff Bay after a rousing rendition of the Welsh national anthem.
The Queen, 76, looked elegant in a light pink Anna Valentine coat dress with subtle fringe running down the front.
Pictured: King Charles during his speech in the Senedd this morning, in which he spoke in Welsh.
King Charles was pictured meeting well-wishers during a visit to mark the 25th anniversary of the Senedd
The Queen was pictured smiling as she shook hands with a young woman waving a Welsh flag.
Camilla also wore a knitted hat by Lock and Co and nude heels for her engagement with her husband.
To complete her elegant ensemble, the royal wore one of her favourite necklaces, made up of four strands of pearls, and a white Lady Dior handbag.
Meanwhile, King Charles looked dapper in a navy suit and multicoloured striped tie.
During his speech, the King said: “This is a milestone in a journey that I have had the privilege, all my life, to share with you, in times when we have witnessed great change, profound pain and tremendous achievements.
‘Through it all, my respect and affection for the people of this ancient land has deepened with each passing year. Braint yw cael rhannu eich cariad at y wlad arbennig hon. (It is a privilege to share their love for this special land.)’
Elsewhere in his speech, King Charles also referred to Prince William’s visit to Anglesey this week and the Prince of Wales’ ongoing relationship with this special land.
The Queen, 76, looked elegant in a light pink coat dress with subtle fringe running down the front.
The royal couple were welcomed by the First Minister of Wales, Vaughan Gething, and the Llywydd of the Senedd, Elin Jones.
Queen Camilla was pictured shaking hands with Wales’ First Minister Vaughan Gething in Cardiff today
Royal Order of Wales honour guard before the arrival of King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Senedd
Pictured: The Prince of Wales during his visit to RAF Valley airbase in Anglesey earlier this week.
Pictured: Prince William shows the late Queen and Prince Philip a search and rescue helicopter at RAF Valley in Anglesey
The King continued: “It is a great pleasure for me to see my son’s relationship with this special land continue, including this week’s return to Anglesey – Ynys Môn – a place I know means so much to him.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales moved to Anglesey in 2010 and lived there for three years while the future King was serving in the RAF.
King Charles holds the record for the longest-serving Prince of Wales in the history of the Royal Family, having held the title for over 64 years.
Before his investiture in 1969, Charles learned to speak Welsh from university lecturer Dr Tedi Millward, who passed away in April 2020.
At the time, King Charles released an emotional statement saying: ‘I have very fond memories of my stay in Aberystwyth with Dr Millward over 51 years ago.
‘Although I fear I was not the best student, I learned a great deal from him about the Welsh language and Welsh history.
“After all these years, I am forever grateful to him for helping to foster my deep and abiding love for Wales, its people and its culture. I send my deepest condolences to his family.”
Dr Millward refused to attend the Prince’s controversial investiture at Caernarfon Castle, despite his role requiring strict vetting by Special Branch.
Carlos wore a bulletproof vest at his inauguration ceremony due to fears of nationalist violence.
Before teaching at Royal College of Aberystwyth, the academic co-founded the Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith) with historian John Davies at a Plaid Cymru summer school in 1962.
Dr Millward and his wife Silvia had two children: actress and singer Llio and martial arts trainer and author Andras, who passed away in October 2016.
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