King Charles III: Cardiff events mark proclamation of the King

Special events and parades have taken place as Wales marked the proclamation of King Charles III and tributes were paid to the Queen.

Thousands attended a proclamation ceremony at Cardiff Castle, with other events held around the country.

King Charles became monarch following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, aged 96.

The Senedd was also recalled for politicians to pay tribute to the Queen on Sunday.

Well-wishers began queuing at the castle before 07:00 BST, three hours before the gates opened.

Gary and Cheryl King from Carmarthen, took along children Astrid, nine, Vada, seven, and Emmett, four, to the ceremony.

"We thought it thought it would be a great educational experience for them, something they would always remember," Gary said.

King Charles' accession to the throne was formally confirmed at St James' Palace in London on Saturday.

The proclamation in Cardiff was one of several, with others in Scotland and Northern Ireland, while councils across Wales also held ceremonies throughout the day.

More than 2,000 people were allowed inside Cardiff Castle's grounds, while hundreds more lined the streets outside the castle walls, including two protesters holding signs reading: "Not our king!"

Invited guests at the castle included all Members of the Senedd, the Secretary of State for Wales, the High Sheriff of South Glamorgan, and senior members of the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force in Wales.

A Proclamation Guard made up of 26 members of the 3rd Battalion the Royal Welsh and the Band of the Royal Welsh marched from City Hall to Cardiff Castle ahead of the start of the ceremony.

BBC Wales reporter Nicky Smith said: "You could hear a pin drop inside the castle.

"There was absolute silence, as the crowds watched the dignitaries arrive."

At noon, First Minister Mark Drakeford called upon Wales Herald Thomas Lloyd OBE to read the proclamation in English.

Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan Morfudd Meredith read it in Welsh.

"I'm very privileged and honoured to be doing it and obviously it's a historical occasion," she said.

Speaking about the new King, she added: "I must say he's very conscientious. What he's done for Wales with his charities is fantastic. We're very grateful to him for what he does generally."

Following the proclamation readings, a 21-gun salute was fired, followed by God Save the King and Wales' national anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

After the ceremony at the castle, Members of the Senedd returned to Cardiff Bay to pay tribute to the Queen as the Welsh Parliament was recalled for the special session.

Proclamations were read elsewhere in Wales on Sunday, including outside Monmouthshire county hall in Usk, in Mold, Flintshire, on the steps of the Guildhall in Swansea, and at county hall in Carmarthen.

In Denbighshire, the proclamation was read in both Welsh and English at county hall, Ruthin.

"Events like the proclamation have been mirrored in counties right across Wales," said Arwel Roberts, the chairman of Denbighshire county council.

"A lot of work has gone on to prepare for such an event and I would like to extend my gratitude to those who attended."

Around 150 people gathered outside the civic centre in Merthyr Tydfil for a bilingual proclamation by the High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan, Maria Kovacevic Thomas.

Cries of "God Save the King" rang out from the crowd after the ceremony and national anthem.

Robert Brown, General Manager at the Ivor Hael restaurant in Llwynypia, Rhondda Cynon Taf, said he decorated the front of the restaurant in the union flag out of respect for the late Queen.

"I'm far from a royalist but it was quite a sad occasion really because the Queen has been part of everybody's lives for so long," he said. "It's just a strange feeling really.

"On the funeral [day], we will be hiving out Port to customers because port was one of the Queen's favourite drinks "

On Friday, King Charles will make his first visit to Wales as monarch, visiting Cardiff with Queen Consort Camilla, as part of a tour of the UK nations ahead of his mother's Queen's funeral on Monday 19 September.