Marshmallows and mental health discussed as Royals visit city on tour to recognise efforts of people in Covid crisis
THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose Cardiff Castle as the latest stop on their tour of Britain to thank key workers and communities for their efforts during the pandemic.
William and Kate arrived at 9.30am today and toured the ‘Christmas in the Castle’ festive attraction where they spoke to a group of university students about their experience of lockdown.
Luke Morgan, a fourth year Medical student and Wellbeing Champion for Cardiff University spoke to the royal couple about the mental health impact of lockdown.
“I could talk to them all day but more importantly, they could talk to us all day, it felt like they wanted to speak to us,” he said.
He also joked that he, “got a free hot chocolate out of it!”
Welsh performer, Max Boyce, read his poem dedicated to the NHS, ‘When Just The Tide Went Out’ and the couple browsed stalls and also toasted marshmallows.
Samba Galêz, Wales’ longest running Samba band, performed for the Duke and Duchess.
“It was the first gig we’ve done for about a year and they had a nice chat with us about getting together,” said Simon Preston, leader of Samba Galêz.
The visit was kept quiet to avoid big crowds that could spread Covid-19. Performers were previously told they would play for a VIP audience but only found out who exactly was visiting this morning.
The three-day, 1,250-mile tour which ends today, is being made using the Royal Train which was first used by Queen Victoria, although the present version came into service for the present Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.
Before arriving in Cardiff, William and Kate have visited Scotland, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Batley and Manchester in a bid to boost national morale.
But the tour has received a lukewarm reception from politicians in Wales and Scotland, despite a Number 10 spokesperson describing it as a nationwide “morale boost”.
Speaking to Radio 4 this morning Vaughan Gething, the Welsh Health Minister, said he would rather no-one was making unnecessary visits to Wales and hoped that it wouldn’t be an excuse for people to claim they’re confused about lockdown restrictions.
That followed a comment from Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday who said that Kensington Palace had been made aware of travel restrictions for people coming to Scotland.
