Prince William marks the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster (Image: PA)
The Prince of Wales cut a sombre figure as he joined the King and Queen in Aberfan today to mark the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster. The senior royals joined politicians, survivors and bereaved families in remembering the 116 children and 28 adults who were killed in the mining disaster at the small Welsh village on October 21 1966.
The disaster unfolded following days of heavy rain, when excavated mining debris from the Merthyr Vale Colliery was dislodged and thundered down the hillside. The waste material had been piled high on the side of Mynydd Merthyr – above Aberfan – for years, even though there were numerous underground springs below.
Children at Pantglas Junior School were just getting ready for lessons when 1.5 million cubic feet of liquefied slurry crashed into the school and several nearby houses. About half the children from the junior school died in the tragedy, which happened on the last day before half term.
Charles, Camilla and William are visiting the Aberfan Memorial Garden, which is located on the site of the junior school, and the nearby Aberfan and Merthyr Vale Community Centre.
The King and Queen also lay wreaths (Image: Getty)
The Aberfan disaster claimed the lives of 116 children and 28 adults (Image: Getty)
Warm exchanges were shared between the three royals (Image: Aaron Chown/Press Association)
A short prayer and a moment of silence was held, during which The King and The Prince of Wales will lay wreaths, and The Queen will place a posy. William and Charles are both in black tie, while Camilla is in a leopard print dress and camel coat.
The trio warmly greeted each other upon arrival, having all attended the state banquet at Windsor Castle last night, and were seen laughing ahead of the short service.
At the community centre the royal party will meet retired members of the emergency services who helped in the hours and days after the disaster.
They will then spend time with survivors, bereaved parents, and siblings of those who died.
Later, Prince William will visit Ynysowen Community Primary School where he will unveil the Aberfan Memorial Tree, a new sculpture created to commemorate the anniversary.
Wreaths laid in the Aberfan Memorial Garden (Image: Aaron Chown/Press Association)
The Prince of Wales speaks to members of the public in Aberfan (Image: Jacob King/Press Association)
King Charles III speaks to members of the public lining the streets in Aberfan (Image: Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II visited eight days after the tragedy and shortly after a mass funeral had taken place. Her decision not to visit sooner was said to have been one of the greatest regrets of her reign. She returned to Aberfan three more times during her life and opened Ynysowen Primary School in 2012.
Charles, who was then the prince of Wales, visited Aberfan in 2016 and privately laid a wreath bearing the words “Er bythol gof a chyda’r cydymdeiumlad dwysaf”, meaning “In continuing memory and deepest sympathy”.
He planted a sweetgum tree in the Aberfan Memorial Garden and spoke to survivors at a reception before delivering a speech that included a message from the late Queen.
William previously met survivors of the Aberfan disaster when he visited with the Princess of Wales in 2023.
First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, who is attending the remembrance event, described Aberfan as “one of the darkest days in our nation’s history”.
