Catherine Delivers First Ever Welsh-Language Message as William and Catherine Visit Powys for St. David's Day
The Princess of Wales has delivered a video message entirely in Welsh to mark St. David's Day, a first for her, while she and the Prince of Wales made a wet-weather visit to Powys this week ahead of the national celebrations on 1 March. The joint message and the couple's visits underline their public focus on Wales and community work as local towns prepare for parades and concerts.
St. David's Day message and visit highlights
In the video, published on the couple's official channels, William and Catherine spoke in Welsh. William opened with: "To everyone in Wales, a very happy St David's Day, " and described the nation as "a beautiful country, with a rich history and wonderful people. " Catherine said Wales was "very close to our hearts, " and closed the message by wishing people "a day full of celebration with family and friends. " The video was recorded earlier this week on the Windsor estate.
Catherine's focus on mothers' mental health during the rainy Wales visit
During a rainy Wednesday visit to mid Wales, the Princess of Wales spoke about her passion for mothers' mental health. She met members of a perinatal service for women experiencing mental health problems linked to early motherhood. In Newtown, she met members of Mums Matter, the local perinatal support service.
Personal encounters: volunteers, survivors and young families
Volunteer Ella Hopkins, 25, who started volunteering with the service after fleeing domestic violence with her 10-month-old son Marcus, described the Princess as "absolutely incredible. " The couple spent time speaking with attendees and staff, highlighting the hands-on nature of the visit and the Princess's interest in community mental health services for new mothers.
Community stops across Llanidloes and Newtown
The pair first travelled to The Hanging Gardens in Llanidloes, a community project focused on resilience and creativity, before visiting an art gallery in Newtown. They ordered hot drinks at the Llanidloes café, chatted with people making Welsh-language festival signs, and visited a forge where they met nursery children aged three and four who were waiting with signs they had drawn.
Crowds, traditions and local producers ahead of St. David's Day
Arriving to cheers from crowds waving Welsh flags and holding bunches of daffodils, the couple spent around 25 minutes in heavy rain speaking to well-wishers, with Catherine giving high-fives and hugs and William posing for selfies. They greeted Ollie Jones, 21, and watched him make a hook, then went to the centre's performing-arts space to see schoolchildren perform Welsh songs. At the adjoining market, William sampled a glass of cider, and in a kitchen area people were preparing traditional cawl and Welsh cakes ahead of the St. David's Day festivities.
