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| Senedd: Queen commends Wales' spirit during Covid pandemic | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Queen was led into the Senedd chamber by mace barer Shaz Khan | |
| The Queen has commended the spirit of the Welsh people during the pandemic as she officially opened the sixth term of the Senedd on Thursday. | The Queen has commended the spirit of the Welsh people during the pandemic as she officially opened the sixth term of the Senedd on Thursday. |
| In her first visit to Wales in five years, she told the Welsh parliament everyone owes a "debt of gratitude" to those who have served their communities. | |
| People nominated as Covid community champions were among the guests. | People nominated as Covid community champions were among the guests. |
| The event marks the ceremonial start of the term. | The event marks the ceremonial start of the term. |
| Presiding Officer Elin Jones said the ceremony was a celebration "of the diverse communities across Wales". | |
| A 21-gun salute sounded in Cardiff Bay marked the Queen's arrival in the city. | A 21-gun salute sounded in Cardiff Bay marked the Queen's arrival in the city. |
| At the steps of the Senedd she was greeted by pupils from Mount Stuart Primary School, a short distance from the Senedd. | At the steps of the Senedd she was greeted by pupils from Mount Stuart Primary School, a short distance from the Senedd. |
| The Queen is greeted by Presiding Officer Elin Jones and First Minister Mark Drakefordhttps://t.co/aWg6A8G9ZC pic.twitter.com/lCv3d9s98K | The Queen is greeted by Presiding Officer Elin Jones and First Minister Mark Drakefordhttps://t.co/aWg6A8G9ZC pic.twitter.com/lCv3d9s98K |
| After meeting First Minister Mark Drakeford and Elin Jones, mace-bearer Shaz Khan led her into the debating chamber. | |
| The mace was placed in its sconce in the Senedd to signify the official opening. | The mace was placed in its sconce in the Senedd to signify the official opening. |
| Follow the events online live | Follow the events online live |
| Queen speaks of 'deep affection' for Scotland | Queen speaks of 'deep affection' for Scotland |
| Queen marks Royal British Legion centenary | Queen marks Royal British Legion centenary |
| As she arrived the Welsh National Opera's (WNO) youth branch performed Ar Lan yr Môr. | As she arrived the Welsh National Opera's (WNO) youth branch performed Ar Lan yr Môr. |
| Everyone owes a 'debt of gratitude' to those who helped their communities, she said. | |
| The Queen met the first minister Mark Drakeford and presiding officer Elin Jones on the Senedd steps | The Queen met the first minister Mark Drakeford and presiding officer Elin Jones on the Senedd steps |
| It is the sixth time the Queen has officially opened the Senedd | |
| The Queen, speaking in the Senedd, said: "We all owe a debt of gratitude to those who have risen so magnificently to the challenges of the last 18 months, from key workers to volunteers who have done so much to serve their communities. | The Queen, speaking in the Senedd, said: "We all owe a debt of gratitude to those who have risen so magnificently to the challenges of the last 18 months, from key workers to volunteers who have done so much to serve their communities. |
| "They are shining examples of the spirit for which the Welsh people are so renowned, a spirit which I have personally encountered so many times. | |
| "It is a source of pleasure that both The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, together with The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have had homes in Wales, and experienced its very special sense of community. | |
| "The Welsh people have much to be proud of," she added. | |
| She said the decision to change the name of the institution from National Assembly for Wales to Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament "demonstrates your status as a national parliament". | She said the decision to change the name of the institution from National Assembly for Wales to Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament "demonstrates your status as a national parliament". |
| Its move to virtual meetings at the start of the pandemic was also commended. | Its move to virtual meetings at the start of the pandemic was also commended. |
| "The fact that all parties showed a determination that you should continue to meet is commendable, and testament to your commitment to scrutinise the government, on behalf of the people of Wales." | |
| The Queen arrived with Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall | The Queen arrived with Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall |
| Pupils from Mount Stuart Primary School greeted the royal party | |
| First Minister Mark Drakeford said the opening of the sixth session was "a time for all of us to look to the future". | |
| "People from all corners of Wales, including those most distant from this building, have chosen 60 members to represent our collective ambitions and the a course for our country, in the years ahead," he said. | |
| "I'm sure that we will argue and disagree about what is best for Wales, but always in this Senedd with the interests of the, we represent at the centre of everything that we do." | |
| The Queen signed a commemorative parchment during the ceremony | |
| Shaz Khan, a Senedd security officer, performed mace-barer duties | |
| Presiding Officer Elin Jones said: "We thank all the people of Wales, health care workers in particular, for their extraordinary efforts during this time." | |
| She said work in the next term "will undoubtedly focus on recovering from the Covid pandemic, but there will also be many other challenges and opportunities, from playing a leading role in tackling climate change to promoting equality and fairness for all in Wales". | |
| In the chamber Eleri Griffiths and Oliver Edwards Davies of the Welsh Youth Parliament read a poem called Ein Llais. | |
| Written by children from 24 primary schools, it spoke about their hopes for the future. |