Key Points
- Prince and Princess of Wales William and Catherine attended a private ceremony at St Davids Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on 8 September 2023, to mark the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.
- This short 10-minute ceremony was conducted by the Dean of St Davids, the Very Rev Dr Sarah Rowland Jones.
- Prayers were said in Welsh and English, and the choir of the cathedral sang “Thou Knowest, Lord, the Secrets of Our Hearts,” which was sung at the state funeral of the late queen.
- Catherine placed a bouquet of ivy, eucalyptus, white roses, and waxflowers near the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
- Prior to their visit, William and Catherine shared a personal message on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, “Today we remember the extraordinary life and legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth. We all miss you. W & C”.
- After that, William and Catherine visited Car-Y-Mor Seaweed Farm, which means “For the Love of the Sea” in Welsh.
- Also, King Charles III made official national tributes remembering the “long life, devoted service” of the late queen and thanked people for their support throughout the year since he became king.
St Davids (Wales Times) October 17, 2026 – The Prince and Princess of Wales marked the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death with a private service at uk/local/st-davids/">St Davids Cathedral, returning to Wales in their roles as Prince and Princess of Wales.
- Key Points
- How Did William and Catherine Mark the Anniversary?
- What Happened During the Service?
- What Tribute Did the Royal Couple Share?
- How Did Local People Respond?
- What Else Did the Couple Do in Wales?
- How Did King Charles Mark the Anniversary?
- Why Was St Davids Cathedral Significant?
- Background of the Development
- How Could This Development Affect Royal Followers?
How Did William and Catherine Mark the Anniversary?
As reported by Reuters, Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, attended a service at St Davids Cathedral on the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death. The visit took place in St Davids, Pembrokeshire, on 8 September 2023, exactly one year after the late monarch died at Balmoral aged 96.
As reported by BBC News, the Prince and Princess attended a small private service at the cathedral. Hello! reported that the service was held in the cathedral cloisters and included clergy, the choir and around 20 invited guests.
The service was led by the Dean of St Davids, the Very Rev Dr Sarah Rowland Jones. As reported by the Evening Standard’s Michael Howie, Dr Rowland Jones was expected to reflect on the Queen’s “lifelong example of faithful and devoted service”.
What Happened During the Service?
The service included prayers in Welsh and English, reflecting the cathedral’s place in Welsh religious and civic life. The cathedral choir sang “Thou Knowest, Lord, the Secrets of Our Hearts”, a piece also performed during Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey.
Catherine laid a bouquet containing ivy, eucalyptus, white roses and waxflowers beside a framed portrait of the late Queen. Hello! reported that the couple spent time before the portrait, with the Dean later saying they were given space to remember the Queen privately.
“I was struck that they spent quite a time as they laid the flowers,”
Dr Rowland Jones said, according to Hello!. She added that the cathedral’s role was to give the royal couple “the space for their remembering”.
What Tribute Did the Royal Couple Share?
Before travelling to St Davids, William and Catherine published a personal message on X, formerly known as Twitter. As reported by the Evening Standard, the message read:
“Today we remember the extraordinary life and legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth. We all miss you. W & C”.
The post included a photograph taken by Catherine at Balmoral in the previous summer, showing Queen Elizabeth II with several of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The couple also shared an image from the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and another photograph of the late Queen dressed in blue.
How Did Local People Respond?
The couple received a warm welcome outside St Davids Cathedral, where members of the crowd broke into spontaneous applause as they arrived shortly after 1.30pm. Hello! reported that local schoolchildren later presented the Prince and Princess with gifts as they left the service.
A member of the service told Hello! that Catherine spent time speaking with the children and asked their names. The witness said one child gave her a small present, while the couple appeared to suggest the gifts were “one each”, possibly for their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
What Else Did the Couple Do in Wales?
After the cathedral service, William and Catherine travelled to the Car-Y-Mor Seaweed Farm on the Pembrokeshire coast. Hello! identified the farm as being at St Davids and said its Welsh name translates as “For the Love of the Sea”.
The visit formed part of the couple’s first joint public engagements following their summer break. It also followed Prince William’s visit to Bournemouth the previous day, where he met businesses supporting his Homewards initiative, which aims to end homelessness.
How Did King Charles Mark the Anniversary?
King Charles III led tributes to his late mother as the anniversary began. In a written and audio message, the King said:
“In marking the first anniversary of Her late Majesty’s death and my Accession, we recall with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us.”
He also expressed gratitude for the public support shown to him and Queen Camilla during his first year on the throne. Buckingham Palace released a 1968 photograph of Queen Elizabeth II, chosen by the King, showing her in Garter robes and the Grand Duchess Vladimir’s Tiara.
Why Was St Davids Cathedral Significant?
St Davids Cathedral has been a site of pilgrimage and worship for more than 1,400 years, dating back to the sixth century, when St David, the patron saint of Wales, settled there with a monastic community. The present cathedral dates from 1181 and welcomes about 300,000 visitors each year.
The cathedral holds particular royal significance because it is the only UK cathedral where the Sovereign has a special stall in the quire among members of the chapter. Queen Elizabeth II sat in that stall during four visits to St Davids, including her first visit after her coronation in 1955.
Background of the Development
Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, aged 96, after more than 70 years on the throne. Her death led to the accession of King Charles III and the creation of new titles for William and Catherine as Prince and Princess of Wales.
King Charles announced the couple’s Welsh titles in his first address to the nation following the Queen’s death. The St Davids visit came almost a year after William and Catherine’s first Welsh engagement in those roles, when they visited Holyhead Lifeboat Station and met volunteers in Swansea.
How Could This Development Affect Royal Followers?
For royal followers and audiences interested in the monarchy, the visit underlined how the Royal Family publicly marked the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death while also continuing official engagements. The combination of a private religious service, a personal social-media tribute and a local community visit offered a measured picture of remembrance alongside the couple’s working role in Wales.
For Welsh communities, the visit brought national and international attention to St Davids Cathedral and Pembrokeshire. The couple’s later engagement at a local seaweed farm also highlighted the area’s coastal economy and community projects, without the palace releasing detailed policy commitments during the visit.
