The King, The Queen and The Prince of Wales mark the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan Disaster

The King, The Queen and The Prince of Wales have joined survivors, bereaved parents and members of the community to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the Aberfan disaster. 

On Friday 21st October 1966, 144 people were killed when the coal tips from Merthyr Vale Colliery slipped down a mountain side and buried Pantglas School, twenty houses and a farm in the village of Aberfan. Of the 144 people killed, 116 were children, most of them between the ages of seven and ten. About half of the children from Pantglas School lost their lives, along with five of their teachers. It was the last day of school before the half term break. The collapse was caused by a build-up of water in a stream running underneath the tip itself.

The King, The Queen and The Prince of Wales began their visit to South Wales at the Aberfan Memorial Garden, which stands on the site of Pantglas School, where 109 children and 5 teachers died when a coal tip collapsed onto the village.

A short prayer and a moment of silence was held, during which The King and The Prince of Wales laid wreaths, and The Queen placed a posy in memory of those who were lost. 

Their Majesties and His Royal Highness then took a short walk from the Memorial Garden to Aberfan & Merthyr Vale Community Centre, meeting local residents along the route. 

Throughout the visit, the Royal party were accompanied by those who have first-hand experience of the disaster, the impact it had on the community then and continues to have today. 

At the Aberfan Community Centre, Their Majesties and His Royal Highness met retired members of the emergency services who helped in the hours and days after the coal tip collapsed onto the village, including a 96-year-old woman who was a police officer at the time. 

They were shown an exhibition illustrating the huge scale of the rescue effort involved and spent time with representatives from the police, fire service, St John Ambulance, the British Red Cross and other first responders. 

The King, The Queen and The Prince of Wales then spent time with survivors, bereaved parents, former pupils, siblings of those who died and members of the Aberfan Wives, a support group established for mothers who lost children in the disaster. 

The village’s Ynysowen Male Voice Choir also performed. Formed in the aftermath of the disaster, the choir became a support group for local men to share their experiences. 

During a reception in the community hall, survivors and family members shared their personal reflections on the disaster and its enduring legacy for Aberfan. Jeff Edwards, who survived the disaster as an eight-year-old pupil at Pantglas School, invited His Majesty to speak.

The King said:

Today, in our nation, and across the world, thoughts will turn to you in Aberfan. Hearts, far from this valley, will ache with yours. Tears, from those who remember, and those who at the time were not yet born, will be shed with yours.

Read His Majesty's speech in full.