Overview
- King Charles III and Queen Camilla attended the ceremonial opening of the Seventh Senedd on Thursday, October 15, 2026, with the King scheduled to speak in the Siambr alongside Llywydd Huw Irranca‑Davies and First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth.
- Real Democracy Now, led by Adam Johannes, organised a planned demonstration outside the Senedd and urged Members of the Senedd to stage a walkout and join chants calling for an elected head of state.
- Organisers and royal officials put operational precautions in place ahead of the event and a Buckingham Palace spokesperson reiterated that the King will not apologise for historic‑slavery matters while expressing a commitment to promoting understanding.
- The ceremony marked the first opening since the Senedd expanded to 96 members and included traditional cultural elements such as the King's Harpist, the Wales YFC Choir, and Delyth Lewis becoming the first woman to carry the Senedd's ceremonial mace into the Siambr.
- Polling cited in coverage shows about 55–60% in Wales favour keeping the monarchy and roughly 20–25% back an elected head of state, a gap that frames the protests as a vocal challenge that could sharpen debate over the Crown's role in devolved institutions.