A warm Welsh welcome! Charles and Camilla are greeted by crowds of cheering children waving Union flags as they visit Brecon
- King Charles and Queen Camilla appeared in high spirits during the visit today
- Read more: Sovereign Grant used to fund official Royal duties is halved
Charles and Camilla were in high spirits today as they made a number of engagements in Brecon.
The King, who was the Prince of Wales for more than 53 years, and Queen were beaming with delight as they were met by cheering schoolchildren during a visit to Brecon Cathedral this afternoon.
The couple are marking the centenary year of the cathedral and met with cathedral representatives and organisers of the Brecon Choir Festival.
Once inside, the royals listened to a performance by the choir, and appeared moved by the music.
Last month it emerged King Charles has given up his home in Wales as he begins to downsize his property portfolio.
Charles and Camilla were in high spirits today as they made a number of engagements in Brecon
The King, who was the Prince of Wales for more than 53 years, and Queen visited Brecon Cathedral this afternoon
During the visit today, King Charles looked smart in a tan coloured suit, which he paired with a red striped tie.
Meanwhile the Queen opted for a stylish emerald green midi dress with a pair of brown block heels.
As they arrived at the Cathedral, the couple were greeted by crowds of cheering and excited schoolchildren who were waving Union flags.
They went on to meet First Minister Mark Drakeford, with whom they shook hands before entering the church.
Last year, Mark was accused of making a ‘faux pas’ by revealing his private conversation with the new monarch.
He claimed the King had expressed serious ‘concerns’ over how people would manage during the upcoming ‘difficult winter’ due to the cost-of-living crisis.
The politician claimed he discussed the impact of the rising bills, climate change and renewable energy with Charles during their audience in September.
Mr Drakeford said the King also told him he was interested in renewable energy generation in Wales, and how it might play a ‘bigger part’ in future energy security.
Political commentator Jack Blanchard later told Tom Newton Dunn that the Welsh First Minister had made a ‘faux pas’ by revealing their private conversation.
He said: ‘I don’t know what the Welsh is for “faux pas” is, Tom, but you are not supposed to reveal what the monarch says to you in these private conversations.
The Queen was beaming with delight as she chatted to performers and members of staff in Brecon cathedral
‘And for years the Queen has been discreet about these sorts of things – and of course she will have private conversations with politicians but they will never reveal what happened.
‘And Mark Drakeford has just come out and told you what King Charles has been discussing.’
Last month, it emerged the King had given up his home in Wales.
His Majesty purchased Llwynywermod in 2007 by the Duchy of Cornwall, paying £1.2million for the luxury farmhouse near Llandovery in Carmarthenshire.
Sources claimed it is ‘unlikely’ the King will use the farmhouse as much as he did when he was the Prince of Wales.
He previously used it as his base during regular trips to the nation, but passed it onto his eldest son Prince William after acceding the throne.
Now the Coronation has passed the King and his aides are considering what to do with the many homes owned or used by Charles, which include Birkhall, Highgrove, Clarence House, Balmoral and Sandringham.
According to The Telegraph, one royal source said it was ‘an issue that needs to be addressed’ – with discussions underway about increasing public access to some of Charles’s properties to help with funding.
Since the Duchy of Cornwall was given to Prince William, the King has paid rent on Llwynywermod, which exists on a whopping 192-acre estate.
During the visit today, King Charles looked smart in a tan coloured suit, which he paired with a red striped tie
The lease is due to expire later in the summer, with Buckingham Palace confirming the King gave notice to the Duchy earlier this year.
Meanwhile, other properties on the estate are available as holiday rentals when the King is not in residence.
A spokesman for the Prince of Wales reportedly said the royal had no plans to buy his own home in Wales, preferring to stay in hotels to help the local economy.
The original owner, William Williams in the 13th or 14th century, was related to Anne Boleyn.
The old house and the disintegrating concrete and corrugated iron farm buildings, where there was also an abandoned slurry pit, were restored by Welsh craftsmen using traditional methods and local materials.
Charles also planted climbers including Albertine roses, jasmine and honeysuckle up the walls.
Six of the English field maples which formed the avenue of trees at William and Kate’s 2011 wedding were later rehomed at the Welsh retreat.
The idea was Charles’s, and with William and Kate’s approval he set them in the soil at the front of the house, along a rustic wooden fence.
Clarence House tweeted in 2013: ‘The trees from the Royal Wedding at Westminster Abbey are thriving at Llwynywermod.’
As they arrived at the Cathedral, the couple were greeted by crowds of cheering and excited schoolchildren who were waving Union flags
They went on to meet First Minister Mark Drakeford, with whom they shook hands before entering the church
The prince has spoken of the ‘enduring landscape of Wales’ and how ‘its mountains, patchworked fields and woods; its coastline, castles, villages and market towns’ play a vital role in attracting visitors.
He told Visit Wales: ‘It certainly cast its spell on me a long time ago.’
William inherited a £23 million-a-year income from the Duchy of Cornwall.
As heir to the throne, the prince is entitled to the annual surplus generated by the Duchy’s vast portfolio of land, buildings and financial investments.
In 2021 Charles admitted he bought a house in Wales ‘probably 40 years too late’, claiming that owning property in the country is an ‘important part’ of holding his title.
The Duchy and Duchess of Cornwall tend to spend a few weeks a year at the secluded and sustainable three-bedroom farmhouse.
There are also two adjoining cottages, which sleep six and four respectively, in a courtyard which are available for holiday let.
At the time Charles said: ‘Rather 40 years too late, probably. But it’s been a wonderful opportunity, at last, to have somewhere in Wales. I come whenever I can… I’ve always felt that it’s an important part of holding this particular title.
‘It took me years to establish somewhere, it wasn’t through want of trying but it was difficult to find the right place.
‘I used to go to different other houses which was very kind of people to lend them for a week or something, but it wasn’t the same thing obviously until finally we found this, which has been a Godsend really.’
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