King Charles Opens Welsh Parliament as Harry and Meghan Step Out in Nottingham
Britain's royal family worked two cities at once on Oct. 15, 2026. King Charles opened the Welsh Parliament in Cardiff while Prince Harry and his wife Meghan stepped out together in Nottingham, England.
Charles and Queen Camilla attended the ceremonial opening of the seventh Senedd, the name most people in Wales use for the Welsh Parliament. It was Charles's first time opening the body as monarch and his first visit there since 2024, according to Town & Country. The ceremony marked the start of the expanded Senedd.
The Senedd is the democratically elected body that represents Wales and its people. It makes laws for Wales, agrees Welsh taxes, and holds the Welsh government to account.
Camilla dressed for Wales in red. She wore a red wool crepe coat by Fiona Clare and a red felt beret by Philip Treacy, with a leek-shaped brooch described as a Welsh national symbol.
Not everyone came to cheer. A small group of protesters gathered outside the building as the couple arrived. They held a banner reading "For a Socialist republic of Wales" and placards reading "Down with the Crown" and "Not My King."
The group sang "Yma o Hyd" by Dafydd Iwan, which means "We're still here," as Charles and Camilla entered. Other protesters had shouted "you're not wanted" ahead of the visit, which took place under high security, according to WalesOnline.
On the same day, about 200 miles east, Harry and Meghan made their first joint appearance since moving back to Britain. The couple arrived at the Community Recording Studio in Nottingham, a youth music and media space, according to CNN.
They were met by cheering crowds and well-wishers. Meghan was handed several bouquets of flowers during the walk-in, according to The Independent.
What makes this stand out is the timing. The Cardiff opening is formal state business, the kind listed in the Court Circular, the palace's daily record of official engagements. The Nottingham stop was looser and street-level. For American readers following from afar, it was a split screen of how the monarchy now operates.
