Prince William and Kate Middleton paid a visit to Wales on Sept. 27, visiting the country for the first time since receiving their new titles – Prince and Princess of Wales.
They began their trip in Anglesey, where they lived for the first three years after their marriage, per the BBC. There, they spent time meeting crew and volunteers at the RNLI Holyhead Lifeboat Station, which frequently saves lives at sea. Afterwards, they visited the Holyhead Marina Café and Bar, where they met with small businesses and members of the coastguard and other organizations. Later, they stopped by a repurposed church called St. Thomas in Swansea, which is now a food bank and baby bank that supports unhoused people and children in nearby areas.
The trip to Wales marks the first royal duty they have undertaken since the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 8 and the first since King Charles III bestowed the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales on them one day after the queen’s death.
In a statement preceding the visit, William and Kate wrote that they would “do their part to support the aspirations of the Welsh people and to shine a spotlight on both the challenges and opportunities in front of them.” However, sources told Reuters that the pair had no plan for an investiture ceremony similar to the one held for Charles in 1969 when he undertook the title of Prince of Wales. “Right now is about deepening trust with the people of Wales and representing the dynamic Wales that there is today,” Kensington Palace said, per the BBC. “There are no plans for the investiture yet.”
Ahead, check out some photos from their visit.
