St. David's Day: Royals' Welsh-language message and Powys visit spotlights community projects and mothers' mental health
For Powys community groups and perinatal services, the royals' twin gestures — a first-ever video by Catherine delivered entirely in Welsh and an inclement-weather visit to mid Wales — shifted attention to everyday local resilience ahead of St. David's Day. The visits and bilingual message brought direct engagement to projects, families and volunteers who are already preparing for the national celebrations.
How St. David's Day attention landed with Powys projects and perinatal services
The couple’s presence energized small community hubs. In Newtown, Catherine met members of Mums Matter, a perinatal service for women experiencing mental health problems linked to early motherhood, and spoke about her passion for mothers' mental health during a rainy Wednesday visit. Volunteer Ella Hopkins, 25, who began working with the service after fleeing domestic violence with her 10-month-old son Marcus, described her as "absolutely incredible, " noting that Catherine "got really invested" and asked lots of questions about parental stability.
The pair began locally at The Hanging Gardens in Llanidloes, a community project focused on resilience and creativity, which Catherine called "a lifeline to so many people in the community. " They went on to an art gallery in Newtown, visited a forge, met nursery children aged three and four who were waiting with signs they had drawn, and spent time with producers preparing traditional food ahead of the festivities.
What's easy to miss is that the video was recorded earlier this week on the Windsor estate, while much of the on-the-ground engagement happened in wet weather in mid Wales.
Visit scenes: crowds, daffodils, food and weather
The couple arrived to cheers from crowds waving Welsh flags and holding bunches of daffodils, the national flower. They ordered hot drinks at the Llanidloes café, chatted with people making Welsh-language festival signs, sipped hot drinks and chatted to people making signs, baked cakes and watched traditional cawl and Welsh cakes being prepared. William sampled a glass of cider in the market and later spent time posing for selfies; Catherine gave high-fives and hugs during a 25-minute stretch in the heavy rain speaking to well-wishers.
They greeted Ollie Jones, 21, and watched him make a hook, then went to a performing arts space to see schoolchildren perform Welsh songs. After being driven away for a short period, the couple stepped out again to meet cheering crowds, including children who handed them bunches of flowers and pictures. William spotted a group of children holding an Aston Villa scarf and told them: "That's a great way to get my attention. " Catherine praised the children's performance at Llanidloes school, saying: "It was so lovely to meet the children singing inside - they were incredible. "
The Welsh-language message and public lines
In a short video released ahead of St. David's Day, both spoke in Welsh. William opened with: "To everyone in Wales, a very happy St David's Day, " standing alongside Kate. Catherine said: "Wales is very close to our hearts, and we look forward to every visit. " William added: "It is a beautiful country, with a rich history and wonderful people. " Kate finished the message: "Wishing you a day full of celebration with family and friends. " The video was published by the palace.
The Prince of Wales had delivered his first message in Welsh on St. David's Day last year, making this year notable for Catherine’s first full Welsh-language message.
