King Charles III in Cardiff: Key moments as King and Queen Consort visit Wales

King Charles III arrives for a reception at Cardiff Castle. Credit: PA

King Charles and the Queen Consort have visited Cardiff for their first official visit to Wales since the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Royal couple arrived by helicopter on Friday morning and were greeted by a 21-gun salute, before attending a service of prayer and reflection at Llandaff Cathedral.

The couple then visited the Senedd where they received a Motion of Condolence before meeting with Senedd Members and members of the Welsh Youth Parliament.

The King and Queen Consort then arrived at Cardiff Castle, for their final engagement.

At the castle, King Charles held a private audience with the First Minister Mark Drakeford and the presiding officer, before attending a reception hosted by the Welsh Government.

After the engagement, King Charles and the Queen Consort greeted members of the crowd in the castle grounds before departing back to London where the King will hold a vigil at the Queen’s coffin with his brothers and sister.

Here's a round-up of the key moments as they happened.


15:30 - King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla leave Cardiff

The King and Queen Consort have now left Cardiff to return to London where the King will hold a vigil at the Queen’s coffin with his brothers and sister.


15:21 King Charles greets crowds at Cardiff Castle

King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort are meeting some of the crowds in the grounds of Cardiff Castle.

Charles III greeting crowds in the grounds of Cardiff Castle


15:09 King meets with the Aberfan Wives

King Charles and the Queen Consort have met the Aberfan Wives, a group of women who came together in the aftermath of the 1966 Aberfan disaster, at a reception at Cardiff Castle. Denise Morgan, who lost her younger sister in the disaster, said she believed the King would continue his "bond" with the people of Aberfan.


14:30 - King Charles attends reception in Cardiff Castle

King Charles and the Queen Consort are inside Cardiff Castle. They are attending a reception hosted by the First Minister in the Banqueting Hall.


13:58 - Protesters can be heard booing as King Charles enters Cardiff Castle

Some members of the crowd could be heard booing as King Charles and the Queen Consort entered Cardiff Castle.

ITV Wales reporter Kate Lewis said there are around 50 peaceful protesters in the crowd, opposite the castle, holding placards with slogans such as "King? No thanks."


13:50 - King Charles and Queen Consort arrive at Cardiff Castle

Large crowds have lined the streets of Cardiff city centre as the King and Queen Consort arrive at Cardiff Castle for their final engagement of the trip to Wales.

Chants of "God Save the King" could be heard as the King's vehicle entered the castle grounds.


13:40 - King and Queen Consort leave the Senedd for Cardiff Castle

The King and Queen Consort are now travelling by car to Cardiff Castle, where crowds have been waiting to see the Royal couple since the early hours of this morning.


13:15 - 'Diolch o galon' - The King addresses the Senedd in Welsh

At the Senedd, the First Minister Mark Drakeford stood to propose a Motion of Condolence in English and Welsh before the King stood to reply in both languages.

"Diolch o galon", King Charles told the Senedd, meaning "thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Poignantly, these were the last words used by Queen Elizabeth II during a speech on her final visit to Wales in October 2021.


13:05 - 'Small smattering of boos' heard in Cardiff Bay as King arrives

ITV Wales Political Editor Adrian Masters says a "very small smattering" of boos were heard in Cardiff Bay when the King arrived.


12:50 - King Charles and Queen Consort arrive in Cardiff Bay to visit the Senedd

The King and Queen Consort have arrived in Cardiff Bay where they have been greeted by cheering crowds.

They are now heading into the Senedd where they will meet Members of the Senedd and Members of the Welsh Youth Parliament.


12:33 - King Charles and Queen Consort leave Llandaff for the Senedd

The King and Queen Consort have now left Llandaff and are making their way to Cardiff Bay to visit the Senedd.


12:15 - King Charles and Queen Consort greet the crowds in Llandaff, Cardiff

The King and Queen Consort have exited the Cathedral and are now greeting members of the public on their first walkabout in the city.

Crowds can be heard cheering and chanting "God Save the King" as the new monarch and his wife shake their hands and greet them.


11:50 - Crowds are now being allowed inside the Castle grounds

Members of the public, some of whom have been queuing since the early hours of this morning, are now being allowed inside Cardiff Castle grounds ahead of the Royal's final engagement there this afternoon.


11:45 - Crowds gather in Cardiff Bay ahead of the Royal couple's visit

Crowds are gathering in Cardiff Bay ahead of the King's next visit to the Senedd. Credit: PA

Crowds are gathering in Cardiff Bay ahead of the King and Queen Consort's next visit to the Senedd.

Children from Victoria Primary School in Penarth are outside the Senedd waving Wales and union jack flags. They walked for an hour this morning to be there to see the King today.


11:30 - Watch live ITV News coverage of the service at Llandaff Cathedral here

King Charles III and the Queen Consort are attending a service of prayer and reflection for the life of the Queen at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.


11:15 - King Charles arrives at Llandaff Cathedral

King Charles arrives at Llandaff Cathedral and is greeted First Minister Mark Drakeford, Welsh Secretary Robert Buckland, the High Sheriff of South Glamorgan, Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Chief Constable of South Wales Police and the Dean of Llandaff Cathedral.

Charles arrived by helicopter with the Queen Consort and travelled by state limousine in bright sunshine to the service.


11:10 - A gun salute marks King Charles' arrival in Wales

A 21 gun salute has marked the arrival of the King and Queen Consort in Wales at Cardiff Castle.

Reservists from 104 Regiment Royal Artillery carried out the gun salute.


11:09 - King Charles III's helicopter arrives in Cardiff

King Charles III's helicopter has landed at Pontcanna Fields, in Cardiff.

The Monarch and the Queen Consort will now travel by car to Llandaff Cathedral.


10:58 - Prime Minister arrives at Llandaff Cathedral

The Prime Minister Liz Truss has arrived at Llandaff Cathedral ahead of the service of remembrance.


10:45 - Long queues outside Cardiff Castle

Queues to get into Cardiff Castle are growing. Credit: Brian Meyrick ITV Wales

Hundreds of people are queuing outside Cardiff Castle in the hopes of meeting the King and Queen Consort when they visit there later today.

The Welsh Government says only the first 2,000 will be granted entry.


10:29 - First Minister Mark Drakeford arrives at Llandaff Cathedral

The First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford and his wife have arrived at Llandaff Cathedral for the service of remembrance.

The King and Queen Consort are yet to arrive in Wales.


10:15 - Crowds are gathering outside Llandaff Cathedral

Hundreds are gathered to see the King in Llandaff. Credit: Rob Osborne ITV Wales

Hundreds of people are gathered in Llandaff near to the Cathedral, where King Charles III and the Queen Consort will soon arrive for a service of remembrance.