Wales marks the Coronation of King Charles III

A gun salute took place at Cardiff Castle as part of the Coronation celebrations

Special church services, a beach party and other events have been held across Wales to mark the coronation of King Charles III.

The Church in Wales called it a "significant and happy" occasion.

Bells at Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff, and St Davids Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, began ringing ahead of the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

Meanwhile, a "Not My King" protest with about 400 people was staged in Cardiff.

Bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel gave the first performance in the Welsh language at a coronation.

Alongside the Choir of Westminster Abbey, he performed the Coronation Kyrie, described by Welsh composer, Paul Mealor, as a "cry from the deep soul of the hills and valleys of Wales".

"I will enjoy that one minute of singing in my mother tongue after the procession that arrives into Westminster Abbey - I'm first on," Terfel told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast ahead of his performance.

"In my performance I want to bring something that is beneficial to Wales and I'm really looking to perform."

Former army reservists Fran Jones from Swansea and Sally Sweet from Cardiff (first and second left) travelled to London on Friday to watch the procession on the Mall with others
Former army reservists Fran Jones from Swansea and Sally Sweet from Cardiff (first and second left) travelled to London on Friday to watch the procession on the Mall with others

An outdoor screening of the official ceremony was cancelled outside the Friars Walk shopping centre in Newport due to the weather.

But organisers of a beach party in Barmouth, Gwynedd, were able to go ahead with a community lunch on the seafront followed by music from DJs.

Royal harpist Alis Huws from Welshpool plays a snippet from Tros y Garreg which she will perform at the Coronation

Cardiff is the centre of Wales' Coronation celebrations with 40 events over the Bank Holiday weekend, including a 21-round royal gun salute at Cardiff Castle, which happened at noon, a public screening of the coronation ceremony in London and another of the subsequent concert taking place at Roald Dahl Plass.

Becca, from Bridgend, who has been taking part in the events, said: "I like the celebrations have come to Cardiff and it's something we can take part in here."

Protester carrying a bilingual sign reading, 'Not our king'
Placard-waving protesters make their views known in Cardiff

Bethan Sayed, a former Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd, who attended the protest, said the "cost of the Coronation has been astronomical in a cost of living crisis".

"We're here on the day of the Coronation raising awareness that we're a new campaign for a Welsh republic," she said.

"We want to talk to people about why a republic would be beneficial."

About 15 people also took place in a coronation protest outside Caernarfon Castle in Gwynedd, which hosted the investiture of the then Prince of Wales in 1969.

A man and his daughter holding placards
Some families were among those protesting the Coronation in Cardiff

Some people in Cardiff were choosing not to take part in celebrations or the protest, however.

Millie Gee and Sam Harredence, both 19, were simply visiting the shops.

"We're not too bothered," Millie said. "I've never been too enthusiastic about the royals. I don't really know anyone who is particularly patriotic.

"I don't see the point," Sam added.

"It's a really old fashioned thing. it just seems really out of touch."

Coronation post-box covered in stickers
Welsh independence and republican stickers have been repeatedly plastered on a Royal Mail postbox in Cardiff, one of four in the UK repainted to mark the coronation

Welsh independence and republican stickers have been plastered on a Royal Mail postbox in Cardiff, one of four in the UK repainted to mark the Coronation.

It had drawn criticism for its location - outside the Owain Glyndwr pub - named after the last native Welsh person to hold the title Prince of Wales.

The stickers have been removed on at least two occasions.

Getty Images Children wearing crowns play in the puddles at Cardiff CastleGetty Images
The rain did not dampen spirits at Cardiff Castle

Meanwhile, Anne Daley, from Cardiff, 65, has been camping in London since Monday to see Coronation events for herself.

"We've been camping in the park which has been eventful," she said.

"We've seen King Charles go up and down a few times... King Charles was beaming."

Anne Daley and Rachel Walters
Anne Daley from Cardiff and Rachel Walters from Ceredigion made trips to London for the Coronation

Rachel Walters, 53, from Cardigan, Ceredigion, who has also been camping on the route, said had "came to the jubilee and the Queen's funeral, so wasn't going to miss this".

A planned event at Caldicot Castle in Monmouthshire, is no longer happening after it "failed to raise any money whatsoever" towards its £3,000 running costs.

On Saturday afternoon there is a party on the green at Llandaff Cathedral between 13:00 and 19:00, with refreshments, stalls, games, and music from the cathedral's choristers.

The Bishop of St Asaph will lead a civic Coronation Evensong at St Asaph Cathedral in Denbighshire from 15:30.

A reception with refreshments will follow a choir and orchestra performance of Coronation anthems at Brecon Cathedral, Powys.

The bells of St Giles Parish Church will ring at 15:00 and Sunday at 11:00, followed by a service and afternoon lunch party.

L/Cpl Jones and Major Holland
L/Cpl Jones, ceremony pony for the 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, the Cavalry Regiment of Wales and the Border Counties, seen with his farrier, Maj Holland, at Cardiff Castle

There will also be a procession to the church from St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral where a service will feature the Rhos Orpheus male choir.

And a coronation festival is taking place late into the evening on the promenade at Barmouth with music - but it started with cake stalls.

Cake stall
A cake stall at a Coronation party at Barmouth

St Mary's Priory Church in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, will hold prayers for the new King and Queen and a Festal Evensong starting from 17:00 on Sunday.

Coronation music, including Hubert Parry's anthem I Was Glad will be followed by a champagne and canapé reception in the town's Priory Centre.

In Swansea, a civic service will be held at St Mary's Church where the Dunvant male choir will perform with the church choir.

Gun salute at Cardiff Castle
A gun salute took place at Cardiff Castle as part of the Coronation celebrations

The post office in Llandovery, near Charles and Camilla's royal estate at Llwynywermod, Carmarthenshire, will be draped in flags, bunting and balloons for the weekend.

But not everyone will be taking part or even following any of the coronation ceremonies, including republican Owen Williams from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.

"We won't be taking any notice of it," he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"Instead of a coronation, I'd prefer and election. Instead of Charles, I'd prefer a choice.

"It's just simple - it's democracy."

Church in Wales Decorations at St Giles Parish Church, WrexhamChurch in Wales
Decorations at St Giles Parish Church, Wrexham