News
TRH attend the opening of the fourth National Assembly of Wales at the Senedd in Cardiff
7th June 2011
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attended the opening of the fourth National Assembly at the Senedd today, accompanying The Queen.
Her Majesty officially opened the Welsh Assembly today as Assembly Members gathered for the fourth session at the Senedd.
The presence of The Queen marks a new period for the Assembly, which for the first time will be passing Assembly Acts.
In a speech, Her Majesty praised the Welsh Assembly, saying it had an "impressive record of achievement" and had "coped admirably with the growth in powers granted to it".
The Duke of Edinburgh also attended today's opening.
The royal party were greeted by hundreds of schoolchildren who cheered and waved flags as they stood on the steps to the Senedd, before a flypast of four Hawks from 208(R) Squadron RAF Valley flew overhead.
Opening the Assembly, The Queen congratulated Welsh Assembly Members (AMs) on their election and spoke of the extension of new devolved powers.
She told AMs they had a duty to represent the interests of their constituents and the vital functions of democracy now rested on the AMs' shoulders.
Speaking in the Chamber, The Queen said: "The National Assembly of Wales can call upon an impressive record of achievement.
"It has coped admirably with the growth in the powers granted to it since devolution.
"During the various evolutionary stages of devolution in Wales, the Assembly has earned itself a well-deserved reputation for diligence and competence.
"You are now entrusted with the authority to make laws in all matters contained within the 20 subjects devolved to the Assembly and, for the first time, you will be passing Assembly Acts.
"The performance of the Assembly in discharging these new responsibilities will be closely scrutinised here in Wales and elsewhere."