15.09.22
More details have been released about the visit of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort to Llandaff, the Senedd and Cardiff Castle tomorrow, Friday, September 16.

This will be the Royal Couple’s first visit to Wales following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The public are invited to welcome The King and The Queen Consort as they arrive at the castle, and around 2,000 people will be able to gather inside the walls to see them take part in their final engagement of the day. Large crowds are also expected at the Senedd where the Royals will greet members of the public, and in Llandaff.

Exact timings are not being released, but the castle’s front gates will open in the morning, ahead of a performance by the Band of the Royal Welsh on the drawbridge.

The public are also invited to welcome the Royal Party as it approaches Cardiff Castle and to wave goodbye as they depart.

Entry to the castle grounds will be on a first come, first served basis and people are asked to avoid bringing large and non-essential bags which will require searching and could slow down entry.

If you hope to gain access to the Castle Grounds please bring only essentials with you eg: purse/wallet, keys, medication etc.  No picnics, no chairs or umbrellas (the weather forecast is fine).  As waiting times in the grounds could be long, people will be allowed to bring drinks and sandwiches/small snacks (no glass bottles or cans including perfume bottles permitted). The more people bring with them, the longer it will take to search, limiting our ability to get as many people as we can into the grounds.

Members of the public will be able to leave the grounds at any time, but if they wish to return, they will need to rejoin the security-search queue and may not regain entry. We are advising people to expect very long queues from early in the day and, unfortunately, we will not be able to accommodate everyone who would like to come into the Castle grounds.

Viewing points for wheelchair users and mobility scooters will be available inside the castle grounds; outside the castle; at the Senedd; and in Llandaff by the Green. Stewards will be on hand to advise. If attending Llandaff please note there is no parking in the immediate area. To access a viewing area on the Green drop off at junction of Heol-y-Pavin and Bridge Street and approach a steward. For access to a viewing area to see the Royal Party arrive and depart go to the junction of Heol Fair and High St and approach a steward. At the castle please approach the front gate and speak with the stewards who will advise you; at the Senedd approach via the Wales Millennium Centre and speak with stewards at the fence. Spaces within the viewing areas are limited, crowds are expected and there could be very long waiting times for everyone at all three locations.

The Royal couple are expected to arrive at Cardiff Castle in the afternoon where they will meet representatives from Royal Patronages and members of Wales’ Faith Communities in the Castle House.

The King will also hold a private audience with the First Minister, Mark Drakeford, and the Llywydd of the Senedd, Elin Jones. Time permitting it is expected that The King and The Queen Consort will greet members of the public in the castle grounds before departing.

Before visiting the Castle, Their Majesties will be joined by an invited congregation at a morning service of Prayer and Reflection for the Life of The Queen at Llandaff Cathedral.

Following the service, the Royal couple will arrive at the Senedd in the afternoon to receive a Motion of Condolence from the First Minister. On leaving the Senedd, Their Majesties hope to greet some members of the public before they depart for Cardiff Castle.

It is expected that many members of the public will want to gather to see and welcome the Royal Party arrive in Llandaff, Cardiff Bay and at the Castle and the plans in place are designed to facilitate this as much as possible. The Royal Party’s visit to Cardiff will also be televised for people at home.

Accessibility and opportunities for viewing and parking may be limited, particularly for the Llandaff event where several road closures and parking restrictions have already been put in place, and there is limited space around the Cathedral itself.Significant road closures will also be in place across the city tomorrow to facilitate the visit. For full details of these, and public transport information click this link https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/29849.html

Cardiff Council is advising anyone looking to attend any of the three venues to plan ahead and to consider walking or using public transport. Parking will be especially difficult in Llandaff for the visit.

Work is ongoing with the Welsh Government and South Wales Police to manage any congested areas, with significant numbers of stewards drafted in alongside police officers to help keep the public safe.

Please plan ahead, dress for the weather, bring plenty of water, prepare for long periods of standing, expect crowds and be considerate of those around you and take care of those with you. 

Books of Condolence remain open, 9am to 5pm daily, at City Hall in Cardiff. The books will remain open until 5pm on Monday, September 19, the day of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral.

Members of the public are welcome to leave floral tributes on the lawned areas on either side of City Hall’s main entrance between 9am and 5pm daily. The public are asked to remove and take home any plastic wrapping on the flowers they are placing at City Hall.