He will be joined by the Queen on a visit to south Wales for a series of engagements starting in Merthyr
The royal couple will visiting south Wales on Friday(Image: WPA Pool, Getty Images)
The King and Queen will be visiting south Wales on Friday for a series of engagements on his 77th birthday. The couple will travel to Merthyr to visit the historic Cyfarthfa Castle for a celebratory event marking the castle’s 200th anniversary.
They are expected to meet members of the local community during the engagement. At a reception, the Royals will also be met by Welsh cultural figures including Gavin & Stacey actress Ruth Jones, TikTok creator Lewis Leigh and Love Island’s Liam Reardon.
Fashion designer Julien Macdonald, who is from the town, and representatives from the Laura Ashley Foundation will also be in attendance.
Ruth Jones recently fronted a documentary – From Merthyr With Love – with good friend Steve Speirs in his home town of Merthyr for a weekend of nostalgia and adventure – exploring the places, moments and memories that shaped him.
Cyfarthfa Castle in Merthyr Tydfil.(Image: Welsh Government)
Back to the royal visit and the couple will also attend a community reception, which will bring together representatives from their patronages, including The King’s Trust and the Royal Osteoporosis Society, alongside local businesses such as Cocos Coffee and Candles, and Enaid Wellness.
Cyfarthfa Castle, built in 1825 as the grand residence of ironmaster William Crawshay II, remains one of Wales’s most historically significant buildings and in 2025 it is celebrating its 200th anniversary.
Today, Cyfarthfa Museum and Art Gallery showcases over 300 works of art and a rich collection of historical artefacts. It has the biggest collection of art works outside the National Museum of Wales. It tells the story of Merthyr Tydfil’s industrial heritage
At the conclusion of the reception, there will be a birthday cake.
The royal couple are due to visit as the area is set to be hit by Storm Claudia. Forecasters are warning of relentless rain, particularly in the south of Wales, where the heaviest and most persistent downpours are likely to cause travel disruption and localised flooding.
