King Charles III Opens Senedd Amid Anti-Monarchy Protests
King Charles III officially opened the seventh term of the Welsh parliament in Cardiff while protesters demanded inquiries into allegations involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
During a visit to Cardiff on Thursday, King Charles III and Queen Camilla officially opened the seventh term of the Senedd. The King delivered a bilingual address emphasizing his connection to Welsh culture and language, while Senedd Llywydd Huw Irranca-Davies noted that the expanded 96-member chamber represents a new chapter for Welsh democracy. The royal visit also included a meeting with survivors and descendants of the Aberfan disaster ahead of its 60th anniversary.
Outside the venue, anti-monarchy activists organized by the group Republic staged a loud demonstration, using banners and placards to call for the abolition of the monarchy. Protesters chanted "not my King" and displayed images of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Virginia Giuffre, at one point drowning out the official welcome of the royal couple. Police issued a Section 14 notice to manage noise levels, and one person was arrested after refusing to leave the area.
The protests follow a court ruling on search warrants used during the February arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Republic is demanding a full inquiry into what King Charles and Prince William knew regarding allegations against Andrew, particularly amid reports that the King provided $1.98 million to settle repair costs for a mansion previously occupied by Andrew.
