Wales Week 2022

Day One

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall started their annual visit to Wales with a tour of BBC Wales’s new Headquarters.

During the tour, The Prince visited the main studio, which is home to many of BBC Wales’s programmes including Scrum V and Match of the Day Wales.

Meanwhile, The Duchess joined a discussion about women working in media, and also representatives from BBC’s ‘Tiny Happy People’ initiative, followed by staff and students from the Welsh hub of the National Film and Television School.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall at BBC Wales

Her Royal Highness also visited the set of Crimewatch Live where she spoke with the team including presenters Michelle Ackerley and Rav Wilding about their work, with a particular focus on the programme’s work tackling violence against women.

Their Royal Highnesses then had the chance to visit the statue of Betty Campbell in Cardiff's Central Square.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall view Betty Campbell's Statue

Mrs Campbell was the first black woman to become a headteacher in Wales. She worked as headteacher at Mount Stuart Primary in Butetown, Cardiff, and put black culture on the curriculum at her school, championing the nation’s multicultural heritage.

The Prince of Wales had previousy met Betty, who died in 2017, during a visit to her school in 1994.

As part of her commitment to highlight the work of domestic abuse charities and the work they do to support victims and survivors, The Duchess then visited RISE Cardiff.

RISE provides a response to Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) in Cardiff. RISE is delivered as a partnership between Cardiff Women’s Aid, who have been providing a grassroots response to violence against women since 1974, Bawso who provide specialist support to Black and minority ethnic women across Wales, and Llamau who work to end homelessness and provide specialist services including domestic abuse across Wales.

At Cardiff City Hall, The Prince of Wales, in his role as Colonel-in-Chief of the The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, visted the Regiment to present Platinum Jubilee, Operational Medals, and two Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.

One of those receiving their Platinum Jubilee medal was their Mascot, Welsh Mountain Pony Lance Corporal Jones.

The Prince of Wales in Treorchy

Their Royal Highnesses then visited shops and businesses on Treorchy High Street before joining members of the community in the garden of The Lion pub.

In the evening, Their Royal Highnesses hosted an evening of music and drama, celebrating Welsh Culture.

Day Two

On Day Two of Wales Week, The Duchess of Cornwall, in her role as Patron of the National Literacy Trust, opened Millbrook Primary School’s new library.

The Library is part of the Trust’s nationwide Primary School Alliance campaign, which is working to transform 1,000 primary school libraries by 2025.

During the visit, The Duchess’ Birthday Books Project was announced. This new initiative will provide 25,000 children from 75 primary schools in disadvantaged areas across the UK with a wellbeing or happiness-themed ‘Kinderbox’ or mini library.

Her Royal Highness then visited Jamie’s Farm in Monmouth.

The Duchess has been Patron of Jamie’s Farm since 2014, and their Monmouth Site has enabled the charity to extend their programme to an additional 450 young people each year.

Meanwhile, The Prince of Wales had the chance to see oak saplings that have been planted to mark the Platinum Jubilee at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales.

His Royal Highness is Patron of the Gardens, which is committed to the wellbeing of people, plants and the planet through conservation, inspiration and education.

Day Three

The final day of Wales Week started at St Govan’s Head, where The Prince fo Wales celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, alongside the 10th anniversary of the Wales Coast Path and the 200th anniversary of HM Coastguard.

The Prince of Wales at Govan Head

Covering 243 square miles, it is one of the smallest yet most varied of the UK’s National Parks. Designated in 1952, primarily for its spectacular coastline, the Park encompasses a range of stunning landscapes, including hills, estuaries, valleys and woodlands.

His Royal Highness then visited the market town of Narberth, where he met local business owners and producers.

Narberth is famed for its lively mix of proudly independent shops – including boutiques, galleries, grocers, gift shops and antique stores, as well as delis, eateries and local producers. 

The Prince of Wales, Patron of the University of Wales then celebrated the University’s 200th anniversary at the Trinity Saint David Campus.

The bicentenary commemorates the establishment of St David’s College, Lampeter on 12th August 1822 when Bishop Thomas Burgess, Bishop of St David’s laid the foundation stone. It is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales.

The day finished across the border in Hereford, where His Royal Highness officially opened in Hay Castle, which is opening its doors to the public for the first time in its 900-year history, following a major restoration project. 

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