Prince of Wales Celebrates St David’s Day with Welsh Message
The Prince of Wales has commemorated St David’s Day by delivering his first public message entirely in the Welsh language. In a heartfelt pre-recorded video shared on Saturday, William paid homage to Wales, highlighting its rich history, vibrant culture, and remarkable people—or as he expressed it in Welsh, ei hanes, ei diwylliant a’i phobl anhygoel.
While the prince has previously greeted individuals in Welsh, this marks the first occasion he has articulated full sentences in the language during a public appearance. It is believed that William is not taking formal Welsh lessons; instead, he has been enhancing his language skills through the Duolingo app, as reported by The Times.
This Welsh message follows a recent visit to Wales with the Princess of Wales, where the couple explored Pontypridd and engaged in a delightful experience of cooking traditional Welsh cakes for a local market stallholder. In the video, the Prince is seen adorned with a daffodil, the national emblem of Wales, further emphasizing his connection to the Welsh heritage.
In his message, translated into English, the future king warmly stated: “Hello. Today, on St David’s Day, we come together to celebrate Wales – its history, its culture, and its incredible people. From its breathtaking landscapes to its unique language, Wales continues to inspire. Today, we will celebrate everything that is magical about Wales. To the people of Wales and everybody around the world, Happy St David’s Day.”
According to The Times, the Princess of Wales has also been acquiring conversational Welsh skills, and together, they are encouraging their children—Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6—to learn some Welsh phrases as well.
In contrast, King Charles had formal Welsh lessons prior to his investiture as the Prince of Wales, studying from April to June 1969 at Aberystwyth University, ahead of the significant ceremony at Caernarfon Castle in July that year. His tutor, the Welsh nationalist Tedi Millward, despite their differing backgrounds, became a close friend over time.
William has yet to undergo an official investiture since his father declared him the Prince of Wales during his first televised address as monarch, which took place the day after Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in September 2022.
