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| Queen opens Welsh assembly's fourth term in Cardiff | Queen opens Welsh assembly's fourth term in Cardiff |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Queen officially opened the fourth session of the Welsh assembly in Cardiff Bay, saying it had "coped admirably" with its growth in powers. | The Queen officially opened the fourth session of the Welsh assembly in Cardiff Bay, saying it had "coped admirably" with its growth in powers. |
| It marks a new era after the referendum on direct law-making powers in devolved areas including health and education. | It marks a new era after the referendum on direct law-making powers in devolved areas including health and education. |
| The Queen said the assembly had a "well deserved reputation for diligence and competence." | The Queen said the assembly had a "well deserved reputation for diligence and competence." |
| Earlier, she was greeted by Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler and First Minister Carwyn Jones. | Earlier, she was greeted by Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler and First Minister Carwyn Jones. |
| Addressing assembly members in the Senedd, the Queen, said the assembly was there to represent Wales and its people, make the laws for Wales and hold the government of Wales to account. | Addressing assembly members in the Senedd, the Queen, said the assembly was there to represent Wales and its people, make the laws for Wales and hold the government of Wales to account. |
| She said the assembly had "coped admirably" with the growth in its powers since devolution, and had a "well deserved reputation for diligence and competence." | She said the assembly had "coped admirably" with the growth in its powers since devolution, and had a "well deserved reputation for diligence and competence." |
| The opening of the fourth assembly "marks a significant development in the future of devolution in Wales". | The opening of the fourth assembly "marks a significant development in the future of devolution in Wales". |
| The Queen said the "vital functions of democracy" now rested on the shoulders of the assembly members much would be expected of them. | The Queen said the "vital functions of democracy" now rested on the shoulders of the assembly members much would be expected of them. |
| 'Work night and day' | 'Work night and day' |
| She added: "You are now entrusted with the authority to make laws in all matters contained within the 20 subjects devolved to the assembly and, for the first time, you will be passing assembly acts. | She added: "You are now entrusted with the authority to make laws in all matters contained within the 20 subjects devolved to the assembly and, for the first time, you will be passing assembly acts. |
| "The performance of the assembly in discharging these new responsibilities will be closely scrutinised here in Wales and elsewhere." | "The performance of the assembly in discharging these new responsibilities will be closely scrutinised here in Wales and elsewhere." |
| Carwyn Jones called it an "important new beginning" and said it was a great honour to be First Minister and serve the people of Wales. | Carwyn Jones called it an "important new beginning" and said it was a great honour to be First Minister and serve the people of Wales. |
| He said: "There are challenges ahead, and difficult decisions between competing choices will have to be made, but this is fundamentally a time of optimism for Wales. We have the powers to make a difference." | He said: "There are challenges ahead, and difficult decisions between competing choices will have to be made, but this is fundamentally a time of optimism for Wales. We have the powers to make a difference." |
| Mr Jones said his government would "work night and day" to help improve public services, to protect the vulnerable, to educate and prepare our young people for work, "to promote our industry at home and abroad, to do all we can to make Wales healthier and more prosperous." | Mr Jones said his government would "work night and day" to help improve public services, to protect the vulnerable, to educate and prepare our young people for work, "to promote our industry at home and abroad, to do all we can to make Wales healthier and more prosperous." |
| The Queen was then due to eat a lunch of Welsh lamb at the nearby Wales Millennium Centre. | The Queen was then due to eat a lunch of Welsh lamb at the nearby Wales Millennium Centre. |
| A fly-past of four Hawks from 208(R) Squadron RAF Valley on Anglesey in Gwynedd took place. | A fly-past of four Hawks from 208(R) Squadron RAF Valley on Anglesey in Gwynedd took place. |
| Fanfares at the Senedd were performed by brass and percussion students from the Royal College of Music and Drama. | Fanfares at the Senedd were performed by brass and percussion students from the Royal College of Music and Drama. |
| After the royal opening, the Queen and other royal visitors was meeting guests in the assembly's Neuadd (public space). | After the royal opening, the Queen and other royal visitors was meeting guests in the assembly's Neuadd (public space). |
| Royal harpist Claire Jones, from Clydach, Pembrokeshire, was performing before a pre-lunch reception at the Wales Millennium Centre where the royal guests will meet AMs. | Royal harpist Claire Jones, from Clydach, Pembrokeshire, was performing before a pre-lunch reception at the Wales Millennium Centre where the royal guests will meet AMs. |
| As AMs assemble today for the royal opening, they'll be conscious that they're the first Welsh lawmakers in many hundreds of years who hold direct law making powers without any reference to Westminster. | As AMs assemble today for the royal opening, they'll be conscious that they're the first Welsh lawmakers in many hundreds of years who hold direct law making powers without any reference to Westminster. |
| And with that privilege comes responsibility. For the last four years, they've been examining the bids for powers from Westminster, and then the laws that are made through them. | And with that privilege comes responsibility. For the last four years, they've been examining the bids for powers from Westminster, and then the laws that are made through them. |
| This time round, there's no dry run, no rehearsal. The Welsh Government will soon begin to table its Bills for the assembly to pass into law. These are likely to be longer, more complex and cross cutting than the Measures put forward during the last assembly - and the job of scrutiny is correspondingly greater. | This time round, there's no dry run, no rehearsal. The Welsh Government will soon begin to table its Bills for the assembly to pass into law. These are likely to be longer, more complex and cross cutting than the Measures put forward during the last assembly - and the job of scrutiny is correspondingly greater. |
| We can also look forward to much more drama, potentially, when it comes to that law making process, thanks to the knife-edge election result in May. | We can also look forward to much more drama, potentially, when it comes to that law making process, thanks to the knife-edge election result in May. |
| Labour will have to haggle and compromise to get their policies into law much more than in the days of the huge majority afforded to them as a result of the coalition with Plaid Cymru. | Labour will have to haggle and compromise to get their policies into law much more than in the days of the huge majority afforded to them as a result of the coalition with Plaid Cymru. |
| It's going to be a very interesting five years of the fourth assembly - the key for both ministers and the assembly itself is what difference Wales will see when it's over. | It's going to be a very interesting five years of the fourth assembly - the key for both ministers and the assembly itself is what difference Wales will see when it's over. |
| href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-13684131" >Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones did not attend the Royal opening. A party spokeman says he was still on half term leave and would not return to work until next week. | |
| The party's AM Jocelyn Davies took his place in the line-up of party leaders greeting the Queen as she arrived at the Senedd. | The party's AM Jocelyn Davies took his place in the line-up of party leaders greeting the Queen as she arrived at the Senedd. |
| But his absence was criticised by Labour as "completely disrespectful" and "extremely disappointing" by the Lib Dems. | |
| Four Plaid Cymru AMs had already signalled they would not be attending: Leanne Wood, Bethan Jenkins and Lindsay Whittle and Llyr Huws Gruffydd. | |
| Plaid's new North Wales regional AM Mr Gruffydd is to meet homeless charity Shelter Cymru rather than attend the "ceremonial pomp and pageantry" in Cardiff, saying it "won't contribute" to his work to help people. | |
| Later, Ms Wood and Mr Whittle will attend a Cardiff Bay Republican Day event. | Later, Ms Wood and Mr Whittle will attend a Cardiff Bay Republican Day event. |
| Ms Wood said it was the third time she would not attend a royal opening of the assembly. | Ms Wood said it was the third time she would not attend a royal opening of the assembly. |
| "My wish is for Wales to become a modern, independent country, and I cannot see any place for an outdated concept like the monarchy within it." | "My wish is for Wales to become a modern, independent country, and I cannot see any place for an outdated concept like the monarchy within it." |
| Ms Jenkins said she would spend the day talking to businesses in Bridgend about the economic downturn. | Ms Jenkins said she would spend the day talking to businesses in Bridgend about the economic downturn. |
| "I define myself as a republican so I don't believe the royal family represent what I believe in as a Welsh citizen," she said. | "I define myself as a republican so I don't believe the royal family represent what I believe in as a Welsh citizen," she said. |
| "I respect the people who are attending but I decided to carry on my work as an assembly member and try to represent the people of my area to the best of my abiliities." | "I respect the people who are attending but I decided to carry on my work as an assembly member and try to represent the people of my area to the best of my abiliities." |
| But their Plaid Cymru colleague and former presiding officer Lord Elis-Thomas said it was right that The Queen should take part in an historic day, opening an assembly which now had direct law-making powers. | But their Plaid Cymru colleague and former presiding officer Lord Elis-Thomas said it was right that The Queen should take part in an historic day, opening an assembly which now had direct law-making powers. |
| He said it was a recognising the "new democracy of Wales", an occasion as significant as the state opening of parliament at Westminster. | He said it was a recognising the "new democracy of Wales", an occasion as significant as the state opening of parliament at Westminster. |
| "It's our day - a day for celebrating Wales within the UK constitution," he said. | "It's our day - a day for celebrating Wales within the UK constitution," he said. |
| "We live within a parliamentary constitution which has a monarchical structure - if people want to have a debate about whether there should be a republic and we had a referendum, there's no question about which way I would vote." | "We live within a parliamentary constitution which has a monarchical structure - if people want to have a debate about whether there should be a republic and we had a referendum, there's no question about which way I would vote." |
| 'High expectations' | 'High expectations' |
| The reception at the Wales Millennium Centre was used to showcase new and established Welsh talent, including choir Only Men Aloud. | The reception at the Wales Millennium Centre was used to showcase new and established Welsh talent, including choir Only Men Aloud. |
| The presiding officer said hundreds of representatives from diverse communities, cultures and faiths across Wales have been invited. | The presiding officer said hundreds of representatives from diverse communities, cultures and faiths across Wales have been invited. |
| This is to mark the fact that "communities" will be one of the assembly's themes for the next five years. | This is to mark the fact that "communities" will be one of the assembly's themes for the next five years. |
| "We are honoured to have Her Majesty The Queen return here to the national assembly at the beginning of our fourth assembly term, as we embark on another significant stage in the history of devolution," said the presiding officer before the opening. | "We are honoured to have Her Majesty The Queen return here to the national assembly at the beginning of our fourth assembly term, as we embark on another significant stage in the history of devolution," said the presiding officer before the opening. |
| "The people of Wales rightly have high expectations of this assembly. Today is a celebration but it is also an opportunity for us, as assembly members, to reflect on the road that lies ahead as we strive to meet those expectations." | "The people of Wales rightly have high expectations of this assembly. Today is a celebration but it is also an opportunity for us, as assembly members, to reflect on the road that lies ahead as we strive to meet those expectations." |
| Personnel from No. 4 School of Technical Training, based at MoD St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, are taking part in parade duties with members of Cardiff Air Training Corps. | Personnel from No. 4 School of Technical Training, based at MoD St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, are taking part in parade duties with members of Cardiff Air Training Corps. |
| A referendum in March gave assembly members the right to make laws for Wales in 20 devolved areas without requiring the permission of the UK Government in Westminster. | A referendum in March gave assembly members the right to make laws for Wales in 20 devolved areas without requiring the permission of the UK Government in Westminster. |
| The queen opened the assembly with Labour in government but without an outright majority. | The queen opened the assembly with Labour in government but without an outright majority. |
| The party won 30 of the 60 seats in May's elections. | The party won 30 of the 60 seats in May's elections. |
| The assembly has developed ceremonial elements of previous royal openings by engaging the Wales Herald, the Honourable Thomas Lloyd, and enhancing the role of the Macebearer, David Melding AM. | The assembly has developed ceremonial elements of previous royal openings by engaging the Wales Herald, the Honourable Thomas Lloyd, and enhancing the role of the Macebearer, David Melding AM. |
| The Wales Herald takes part in occasions such as the State Opening of Parliament. | The Wales Herald takes part in occasions such as the State Opening of Parliament. |
| The mace is the symbol of the royal authority by which the assembly makes laws. | The mace is the symbol of the royal authority by which the assembly makes laws. |
| Ahead of Tuesday's royal visit, a ceremony entitled the Celebration of the Mace took place at the Senedd. | Ahead of Tuesday's royal visit, a ceremony entitled the Celebration of the Mace took place at the Senedd. |
| It emphasised the need for greater understanding between different sectors of society. | It emphasised the need for greater understanding between different sectors of society. |