Catherine and William mark St. David's Day with Welsh-language message and rainy Powys visit
Princess Catherine delivered a video message entirely in Welsh to mark st. david's day and travelled with Prince William to Powys this week, where the couple met cheering crowds preparing for the patron saint's feast. The trip combined a filmed message, local community visits and discussions about mothers' mental health.
Video message in Welsh recorded on the Windsor estate
Catherine, Princess of Wales, spoke in Welsh for the first time in a video made to mark St. David's Day; the video was recorded earlier this week on the Windsor estate and was published by Kensington Palace. William also spoke in Welsh in the same video, opening with: "To everyone in Wales, a very happy St David's Day. " Catherine said Wales was "very close to our hearts, and we look forward to every visit, " and finished by saying: "Wishing you a day full of celebration with family and friends. " William added: "It is a beautiful country, with a rich history and wonderful people. "
Rainy mid Wales visit spotlighted mothers' mental health and Mums Matter
During a rainy Wednesday visit to mid Wales, Catherine spoke about her passion for mothers' mental health and met members of Mums Matter, a perinatal service for women experiencing mental health problems linked to early motherhood. She was described as "absolutely incredible" by Ella Hopkins, 25, who began volunteering with the service after fleeing domestic violence with her 10-month-old son Marcus. Hopkins said Catherine "got really invested, she was asking lots of questions, " and that the princess had told people it was something she felt passionate about: "parents being able to be committed and devoted through their own stability. "
The Hanging Gardens in Llanidloes and Newtown gallery stop
The royal couple first travelled to The Hanging Gardens in Llanidloes, a community project focused on resilience and creativity, before going on to visit an art gallery in Newtown. At the Llanidloes cafe they ordered hot drinks and sat down to talk with people making Welsh language festival signs. Catherine described places like The Hanging Gardens as "a lifeline to so many people in the community. "
Market, forge and nursery visits as crowds waved daffodils
They visited a forge and met nursery children aged three and four who were waiting with signs they had drawn. The pair 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. In the adjoining market William sampled a glass of cider before going into a kitchen where traditional cawl and Welsh cakes were being made ahead of st. david's day on Sunday.
Crowds, selfies and a surprise exit after the vehicle left
The couple arrived to cheers from crowds who had gathered despite the wet weather, many waving Welsh flags and holding bunches of daffodils, the national flower of Wales. They braved the wet weather for 25 minutes to speak to well-wishers, with Catherine giving high-fives and hugs and William posing for selfies. After getting into their vehicle and being driven for a short period, William and Catherine stepped out again to meet cheering crowds, including children who handed them bunches of flowers and pictures. William spotted children holding up a scarf for Aston Villa, the football club he has supported since his school days, and said: "That's a great way to get my attention. "
Local preparations and the story of the patron saint
As villages and towns across Wales prepare parades and concerts for St. David's Day on Sunday, people were making signs, baking cakes and making traditional stew in anticipation of the festivities. Little is known about the saint: legend holds he was born on a clifftop in Pembrokeshire during a violent storm after angels foretold his birth to St Patrick 30 years prior. Some believe he lived for 100 years and died on 1 March 589, a date recognised as the Feast of St David.
