Politics · United Kingdom · 3 hrs ago
Charles and Camilla to open new Senedd term amid poetry row
King Charles and Queen Camilla are due to open the Senedd’s seventh term in Cardiff on Thursday.
It is Charles’s first time attending the ceremony as king; he and Camilla attended the 2021 opening with Queen Elizabeth II.
The opening marks the start of a new term for Wales’s parliament, which has expanded to 96 members and uses a new electoral system.
Wales’s National Poet, Hanan Issa, said officials rejected two versions of her poem, including one that referred to Gaza and trans healthcare.
The poem’s removal has prompted debate about whether political discussion belongs in the ceremony; Senedd officials said it was not the right fit for the occasion.
Anti-monarchy groups have called for a protest outside the parliament and urged members to walk out during Charles’s speech.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are due to attend the ceremonial opening of the Senedd’s seventh term in Cardiff on Thursday, 15 October.
It will be Charles’s first time attending the ceremony as King and the first official meeting with First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth since he took office.
The ceremony is taking place amid controversy after officials rejected a poem by National Poet of Wales Hanan Issa.
Anti-monarchy campaigners are urging Senedd Members to walk out during the King’s speech and join a protest outside.
The expanded Senedd has 96 members, making this its first ceremonial opening since the expansion.
- Who
- King Charles III and Queen Camilla will attend, alongside Senedd members and invited guests.
- What
- They will officially open the Senedd’s seventh term. The event has drawn criticism over a rejected poem and calls for a protest.
- When
- Thursday, 15 October 2026.
- Where
- The Senedd in Cardiff, Wales.
- Why
- The ceremony marks the start of the new Senedd term.
Anti-monarchy campaigners
Senedd Commission
Purpose of the royal opening
Anti-monarchy campaigners
Campaigners say an unelected monarch should not open an elected parliament.
Senedd Commission
The commission is holding the ceremony to mark the start of a new Senedd term.
Poem’s place in the ceremony
Anti-monarchy campaigners
Hanan Issa said her poem was rejected because it referred to political topics, and argued that political discussion should be welcome in the chamber.
Senedd Commission
The commission said the poem was not the right fit for the occasion and described the ceremony as apolitical.
Charles and Camilla attended the Senedd ceremony alongside Queen Elizabeth II.
Hanan Issa said on Instagram that her submitted poem, To Grow, and a revised version had been rejected.
Charles and Camilla are due to attend the ceremonial opening of the Senedd’s seventh term.
Anti-monarchy campaigners plan a demonstration outside the Welsh Parliament from 11am.
- Ceremony
- Opening of the Senedd’s seventh term
- Date
- Thursday, 15 October 2026
- Location
- Cardiff, Wales
- Senedd membership
- 96 members
- Poet
- Hanan Issa, National Poet of Wales
- Rejected poem
- To Grow
3 sources
What people are saying
I'm disappointed more than anything. This is the chamber where political discussion is had, and this very much says that political discussion framed as a poem is not welcome.
After a development process, we concluded that the poem was not the right fit for this occasion.
An unelected king opening an elected Senedd. What an insult. You couldn’t make it up, could you?
This ceremony marks the start of a new chapter in the Senedd’s history.