The reaction from the crowds who lined the streets of the Welsh capital was largely warm but booed as Cardiff Castle was stormed by anti-monarchy protesters and there were small demonstrations at Llandaff Cathedral and the Senedd building. Charles is not universally popular in Wales and his announcement that William would become Prince of Wales was met with anger by many. Some see it as a symbol of English oppression in Wales. Taxpayers ‘pay for your parade’: Charles lashed out at Wales over cost of monarchy – video Protesting outside the cathedral, where Charles and the Queen Consort attended a service of prayer and reflection with the prime minister, Liz Truss, was Laura Thomas-Walters, 29, a conservation scientist. He said: “In the 21st century in a democratic country, an unelected head of state has no place. It is an antiquated system of class oppression and class inequality, which is particularly appalling at a time when inequality is growing so rapidly. “A lot of people this winter will be paying their heating bills, but we’ll be paying millions for a coronation, a funeral, changing stamps and Charles is not going to pay a penny in inheritance tax. I don’t think the title of Prince of Wales should exist. If it was, it should belong to a Welshman.’ Inside the cathedral, the Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, said the Queen had been able to bring people together in difficult circumstances, such as her visit to the site of the Aberfan disaster in 1966, where 144 people died when a coal mine collapsed. in primary school. Members of the Aberfan Wives group were among those invited to a reception for the King at Cardiff Castle later. The Welsh language was very much front and center in the service with the first minister, Mark Drakeford, reading from the first book of Kings in Welsh. Camilla wore a silver leek brooch given by the Queen. After the service, Charles and Camilla took a walk around the Green Cathedral. Susie Eardley, who presented the King with a red rose, explained: “He gave me a rose in 1983 when he visited a conservation project at Dunraven Castle in south Wales. He had a red rose in his lapel and pinned it to my overalls. I thought I’d give him a rose today.” Linda Fowler was beside herself with joy at meeting the King. He said: “Touch my veteran badge. I was in the RAF. I can’t wait to tell my grandchildren, they will be so excited.” One man shouted: “We’re paying £100m a year for you and for what?” Queen Elizabeth II’s children were due to pay their respects at their mother’s coffin before her state funeral at the Princes’ Vigil in Westminster Hall on Friday night. The King, Princess Royal, Duke of York and Earl of Wessex were to stand at four corners of the catafalque, a tribute they first performed at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. On Saturday night the Queen’s eight grandchildren will hold a vigil by her coffin. As non-working members of the royal family, both Prince Andrew and Prince Harry have been allowed to wear uniforms to official vigils at the request of the King. Charles also met with religious leaders at Buckingham Palace on Friday. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited Pirbright Army Training Center in Surrey to meet Commonwealth troops who are due to take part in the Queen’s funeral. Charles’ visit to Wales coincided with Owain Glyndŵr Day, which celebrates the life and legacy of the last Welsh Prince of Wales. Llandaff Cathedral was damaged in Glyndŵr’s 15th century struggle against the English. In the Senedd – the Welsh parliament – Charles said his mother was proud of the county’s achievements and felt her grief keenly. He said: “Throughout her reign, the land of Wales could not have been closer to my mother’s heart.” Addressing the Senedd in both Welsh and English, the King said his mother was very proud of Wales and devoted to the country. Charles’ attitude towards the Senedds is significant. The Queen has been friends with the devolved institution and its support – especially given that the English Tory establishment is often viewed with contempt – may help. Laura McAllister, professor of Welsh public policy and governance at Cardiff University, said: “The Queen’s support has helped add gravitas, status, legitimacy and profile to an institution that was clamoring for it to begin with. I think Charles will approach his involvement with decentralization in the same way.” Auriol Miller, director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs, said: “It is encouraging to hear the King making clear his intention to serve the whole of the union.” There was a small protest outside the Senedd, but a larger one at the gates of Cardiff Castle, where Charles had a private audience with Drakeford. The banners bore the slogans: “Abolish the Monarchy”, “Citizen not subject” and “Democracy now”. Glyndŵr flags flew and a man held a placard that read: “End of the title of Prince of Wales”. Organizers had said the protest would be silent, but there were boos as the King entered the castle. One protester, Ryan, from Newport, South Wales, said: “The monarchy is a feudal anachronism. The transfer of power to others by inheritance does not seem to me to be compatible with the principle of democracy. We’ll have to rethink that.”
