The Royal Opening of the Assembly

Good morning. The sun is shining. The Guard of Honour is ready. The

brass bands are rehearsed and the children are gathering to wave their

flags. The Queen is coming and an important ceremony is about to begin

and you are warmly invited to take a front row seat. So stay with us live

here on BBC One Wales. Her Majesty the Queen is about to arrive to open

the National Assembly for Wales. Hello. Good morning. Welcome to our

live coverage of the Royal opening of the fifth Assembly. Now, this is

an event which only happens every five years, but has become a firm

fixture in the Welsh calendar. The election last month has given us

some new politicians in Cardiff Bay. The Queen starts them on their way

and opens the Senedd for business. To greet her, children from across

the country are gathering here, but so too representatives of all the

Armed Forces. The choir, Only Boys Aloud, harpists, poets and the

musicians from the Royal armoured corp bands. Two experts on politics

and royalty, Sian Powell from Cardiff University and the Royal

author, Brian Hoey. Let's get a flavour of what is going on outside

in the moments before the Royal Party arrive. Our reporter is with

the gathering crowds in Cardiff Bay. Good morning, it is quite quiet. A

real sense of anticipation as people await the Queen's arrival. Let's

have a word with three ladies who have come here to see the Queen.

Veronica, to start with. Good morning. Tell us why you have

decided to come here this morning and where you have come from? I was

watching television and I thought why not? Let's just jump in the car

and come and enjoy the atmosphere and see the Queen on her 90th

birthday. What do you make of the atmosphere? It is busy. Look what is

happening, it is fabulous. Cardiff Bay, where else would you want to

be? It is a nice thing to do on a day off on a day like this.

Absolutely. Lorna, you haven't travelled as far, just ash the

corner. Yes. Have you decided to come out here today? I've lived in

London for 22 years and never seen her in the flesh and I've come to

Cardiff Bay to see her. What about the event? It is a wonderful

atmosphere. The comradery amongst the crowd is wonderful. Leanne, you

are from Cardiff as well. Yes. You brought your aunt with you? Yes, I

saw it on the news that the Queen was coming to Cardiff and I thought

I would go and get my aunt. I said, "Come and see the Queen. I will take

you to see the Queen! Queen!" It is really exciting and it is great to

be here and there is a real good buzz about the place.

A 21 gun salute now. Have a lovely day the three of you.

The crowds are outside the Assembly there. We have got a few moments

before the Queen and the Royal Party arrive in Cardiff Bay. Why don't we

go inside the Senedd now and our reporter is Daniel Davis, Dan. Thank

you very much, Jamie. Yes, welcome inside the Senedd. Up here in the

Oriel. Looking down on the guests who have been invited to this

occasion, the Royal Opening of the fifth Assembly. There are

representatives from public authorities, local councils, a few

former Assembly members down there as well including the previous

Presiding Officer, Dame Rosemarie butler who retired as an AM at the

election in May. Earlier, the friends, families, partners of the

AMs came into the Senedd. They took their seats in the public gallery. A

short while after that, the current crop of AMs arrived there all in the

Senedd. They are awaiting for the rival of the Queen and the canons

are being fired to significant she has arrived in Cardiff. Everything

is in place for a royal visit.le military are here. The kids are

outside waving their flags. All we need is for the monarch to arrive

and open the fifth Assembly. Daniel Davis, thank you very much indeed.

The Queen has now arrived at Cardiff railway station. She will be met by

the local authority lieutenant Dr Peter Beck who will escort her and

the Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to

Cardiff Bay. Let's have a word with our guests now, Sian Powell from

Cardiff University and Brian Hoey. Brian, this is going to be a

slightly different sermon Friday from previous ones we've watched. To

reflect, the monarch's greater age? As you say, Jamie. I think what is

going to happen is that those who are lucky enough to actually be

there in person, they will notice that they are making it very easy

for the Queen in physical terms. For example, if you saw the State

Opening in Westminster two weeks ago, the Queen did not go up the

steps in front of the Guard of Honour and she won't climb up steps

here. They're going to have a slope for her to go up and if we are not

going to actually see her struggling at all if indeed she is going to

struggle, but just remember, she is of course, 90, we all know that and

the Duke of Edinburgh, who will be 95 on Friday. So it is going to be

rather different and there won't be a walkabout. You have to take into

account the fact that you're going to be standing about, you're going

to be on her legs, she is going to have to listen to speeches which

hopefully and Sian will be able to tell us about this, hopefully the

speeches will not be too long because the Duke of Edinburgh is

famous for saying, "No sermon must last longer than nine minutes

because the heart and soul cannot tolerate what the posterior cannot

absorb! " Sian, it is worth mentioning a few weeks ago, the

politician who were about to see lining up were knocking seven bells

out of each other in the election campaign? Everyone who would have

watched the leadership debates will have seen them stood next to each

other, debating the issues and debating their manifestoes and

getting into lively arguments on occasion and today, we will see them

in a very different type of ceremony. They will be stood

together. We have seen them walking in together. So it will be very,

very different atmosphere to the one we saw a few weeks. It is worth

making the point that not everyone agrees with this kind of treatment

for the new term of this institution, not everyone is present

there today from the political classes? No, Bethan Jenkins has

decided to stay in her region and perform some constituency duties

today instead of coming to the ceremony. I think she is the only

Assembly Member not to do that. And that's her prerogative and everyone

else is there to see the opening of the Senedd. This is a relatively new

institution in real terms, Brian, but it is already acquired the

traditions and Royal protocols, hasn't it? Absolutely. This is now

an essential and integral part of the Royal Public calendar as indeed

anything else in the Queen's diary and we saw the Royal Standard being

erected there which means, of course, that the sovereign is now in

residence. She is here as the Queen of Wales.

What sort of Assembly can we expect? This is the sign being put on the

front, "Open for business." What do you think we can expect? It would be

a very different Assembly to the one we saw previously with the seven

Ukip AMs that were elected. There is going to be much more, they are

going to need to build more consensus within the Assembly. And

we will have to see how the Ukip members engage with the process of

the Assembly. They were elected on a mandate to shake things up and to

change the Assembly. So it will be interesting to see how they engage

with the process of having to work with the different parties and how

they'll work together as well. We have seen that there is tensions

between them, it would be interesting to see how the seven

members of the group work together. Brian? On a slightly lighter note,

Jamie, you mentioned that the Queen arrived a few minutes ago at Cardiff

Central Station in the royal train. There is no royal train driver as

such. They have always have whoever happens to be available from a small

pool and three days ago that driver was driving a goods train at Port

Talbot! PLAYS NATIONAL

ANTHEM PLAYS NATIONAL

ANTHEM And Her Majesty the Queen is about

to arrive in Cardiff Bay. All three uniformed services are represented

here today. Including first the Queen's Dragoon Guards, the Welsh

cavalry, the band of the royal armoured corp and major Ian Johnson.

And they form the Guard of Honour in front of the Senedd. Also here 1st

Battalion the Royal Welsh, 3rd Battalion the royal Welsh, the 1st

Battalion the Welsh Guards, the Royal Logistic Corp, the royal

Monmouthshire Royal Engineers, and RAF St Athen.

Now in the first car, Her Majesty the Queen getting a cheer from the

assembled crowd. The Queen is joined by the Duke of Edinburgh. Closely

followed by The Prince of Wales, and the Duchess of Cornwall.

APPLAUSE Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of

Edinburgh are met by Sir Brooke, the Vice Lord Lieutenant of South

Glamorgan. The Queen is walking up the ramp

outside the Assembly rather than walking up the steps. It is

especially erected for the Queen as we mentioned earlier on Jamie. It

makes it so much easier for her to walk up and the lady, immediately

behind the Duchess of Cornwall, her Lady in Waiting. The Queen is

meeting the First Minister, Carwyn Jones, the Presiding Officer, Elin

Jones. Newly in the job, of course. The Queen meeting the party leaders.

The leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood.

You can't quite see them, but the Queen is being introduced to the

leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, the leader of Ukip

Assembly group, Neil Hamilton, Kirsty Williams of the Liberal

Democrat. FANFARE.

HARPER PLAYS. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh

going in the lift to go down to the ground floor where the chamber is

located. Welsh cultural life is placed firmly at the centre of the

ceremonial proceedings today. For the first time, musical performances

in the Senedd chamber, by the Royal harpist, Anne Denholm. And the

performance of the specially commissioned composition by the

renowned Welsh composer Professor Paul Mealor. We will hear that a

little bit later. This is the mace bearer. During the ceremony, the

mace is carried into the Assembly and placed in its sconce to signify

the opening of this new Assembly. The mace bearer's role includes

leading that procession of newly elected Assembly members and the

judiciary and judges into the Senedd.

The mace is a gift to the Assembly from the Parliament of New South

Wales in Australia. It was presented to the Assembly on the 1st of March

in 2006 at the official opening. Wearing his tabard of goals, scarlet

and silver which has been handed down. It is only the third ever

Wales had extraordinary, Thomas Lloyd. Chetan Patel is a security

manager at the National Assembly and has been selected to be the mace

bearer for this official opening of the fifth Assembly. He has lived in

Wales for 35 years after moving here with his family from Uganda in 1972.

Yes, he was one of those who was expelled by EDR mean, one of the

Ugandan Asians expelled. -- expelled by Idi Amin.

# This stream that leaves the mountain for the shore.

# But no wing of the spring within the storm.

# Will yield will leave the open sea with open hearts.

# The brightest day that takes the darkest shade.

# The sense that makes a pathway through the sea.

# The flame that Burns to Ashes makes a home.

# The fire. CHOIR SINGS IN WELSH.

APPLAUSE STUDIO: THE NATIONAL YOUTH CHOIR OF

WALES, CONDUCTED BY PROFESSOR PAUL MEALOR, ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONED

commission. TRANSLATION: My pleasure to welcome

you to the opening up of the fifth Assembly. A warm welcome to our

guests, Parliamentary bodies, the Judiciary Committee could and,

public IDs, voluntary groups and the Welsh organisations.

I would like to send greetings to everyone who has joined as outside

the Senedd today, or watching or listening away from Cardiff Bay.

IN ENGLISH welcome to the royal guests, thank you for returning

here. We offer congratulations ahead of events this weekend to mark your

90th birthday and would like to add our own sincere appreciation for the

dedicated servers that you have given formal than six decades.

APPLAUSE -- given for more than six decades.

The Senedd 's tenth anniversary this year has been an opportunity to

reflect not only on the inspiring architecture of this building but

also its position in Welsh public life as the home of Welsh democracy.

We continue to see the evolution of the Assembly 's Palace and

procedures which have matured with the passage of time following the

introduction of the Wales Bill today, we're looking forward to the

next phase of our constitutional journey and to our new

responsibilities and even greater scope to make a real difference to

the lives of the people of Wales. TRANSLATION: These newly elected

residing officers -- as newly elected Presiding Officer I have

committed to promote and safeguard the good reputation of this fifth

Assembly here in the chamber and beyond, in every community within

Wales. I want is to have lively, healthy, democratic debate here in

Aber chamber. May there be passion in our debate, prudence in

conciliation. IN ENGLISH: WE ARE DETERMINED TO

DISCHARGE OUR RESPONSIBILITY DILIGENTLY AND RESPECTFULLY. WE HAVE

BEEN ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY AND ARE COMMITTED TO BEING

THEIR BOYS IN PROVIDING THE STANDARDS of leadership that they

demand of us. May I invite your Majesty to address the National

Assembly? Presiding Officer, members of the

National Assembly for Wales, thank you for your warm welcome and good

wishes. I am delighted to be here today on the occasion of the opening

of the fifth National Assembly for Wales, and I congratulate you on

your election as members of the Assembly. I have continued to follow

the Assembly 's progress with close interest, and to note the remarkable

record of achievement over the first four terms. Though a relatively

young Parliamentary institution, you have established a reputation as a

strong, accessible and forward-looking legislature, serving

all the diverse communities of Wales. The Assembly can be proud of

the way it has engaged with a broad audience across Wales and beyond. To

create a better understanding of the important work that is undertaken

here. And I am sure that you will continue to show innovation and

leadership in the way that you communicate with all those you

serve, and to involve them in your work. When I was here in 2011, I

noted that she would be passing Assembly acts for the first time. --

that you would be. So I'm pleased to see the Assembly serving the people

of Wales as a modern legislature with full lawmaking powers. It is an

achievement in which all who care about Wales can take pride. The

volume and complexity of your legislative responsibilities will

increase still further during this fifth Assembly. You will also have

the fiscal responsibility is flowing from the Wales act 2014, including

tax-raising powers for the first time. Your responsibility is great,

and the expectations are high. But I have no doubt you will continue to

succeed as you discharge these new duties. Presiding Officer, Assembly

members, this fifth Assembly marks a further significant development in

the history of devolution in Wales. I wish you every success as you

prepare to meet the challenges of these constitutional changes and to

help realise the potential of the Assembly for future generations.

STUDIO: Her Majesty The Queen addressing the newly elected

Assembly members. HARPIST PLAYS.

STUDIO: This is the chief executive coming forward now. She's inviting

the Queen to sign a commemorative parchment as the Royal harpist Anne

Denholm plays for Assembly members. TRANSLATION: As an Assembly member

and First Minister may I begin by welcoming your Majesty to the Senate

today, and thanking you for your kind words. -- to the Senedd. It is

a pleasure to have you with is once again for the opening of the fifth

Assembly. On behalf of the people of Wales, may I thank you for the

support you have shown the Assembly since its inception in 1999. And

also thank you for the service you have given the country over the past

60 years. IN ENGLISH: the beginning of a new

parliamentary term is significant. A new agenda for Wales is being

developed. But the beginning of the new term, more than this, marks a

pivotal moment in the life of Welsh devolution itself. In the coming

months and years, further powers will be granted to this Assembly,

marking its maturity into a more powerful parliament. Responsibility

that places honours as legislators is very great indeed. -- the

responsibility that places honours. The settlement for devolution that

we are constructing for a very clear purpose, they are for the people we

represent. A stronger economy for Wales, greater prosperity for

communities and security for individuals and families across the

nation, prosperity and fairness for all. But we must also give careful

thought to the way in which we undertake that task. No single party

has a majority in this chamber. No individual has a monopoly on good

ideas and no person should feel excluded from our work.

To respect the mandate on which we were elected, but ultimately, to

work together. To discuss, to compromise and to act in a

respectful way that allows us all collectively to deliver for the

people we serve. As First Minister, I pledge that I will work for that

end and in that spirit to build the better Wales that I believe we all

want to see. The First Minister, Carwyn Jones. We're going to hear

now a reading of the specially commissioned poem by Maeve

Tonkin-Wells. Maeve Tonkin-Wells from the royal

Welsh College of Music and Drama. The Wales Herald moves to stand in

front of the mace. It is a signal for Assembly members and chamber

guests and the gallery guests to be upstanding in a few moments. The

Royal Harpist starts playing. The Presiding Officer escorts Her

Majesty the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. The First Minister

escorts The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Now is this is the commemorative gift to mark the Queen's 90th

birthday. It is presented to the Queen by the Presiding Officer.

The Duke of Edinburgh obviously enjoying it!

Now the Royal Party walks along the court, followed by Assembly members

and their guests as they prepare to leave. People are lining both sides

of the walk-way are for the most part Assembly staff, the people who

work in the Assembly, who have been given half an hour off to come and

see their VIPs. The Queen makes a short journey in

the lift once again to meet more guests. You can see there on the

left of your picture, Dame Rosemary Butler who stepped down as Presiding

Officer at the end of the last term. Roger Williams on the left of your

frame, the former MP former Dr Barry Morgan, the Archbishop of

Wales. Members of Only Boys Aloud

presenting the Queen with posies of flowers.

As the Queen moves out of the Senedd building, to the strains of Only

Boys Aloud schoolchildren from all over Wales from Anglesey, Newport to

Swansea, waving their flags. The Queen is wearing an outfit

specially designed for this occasion by her senior dresser, Angela Kelly.

She lives in Buckingham Palace. It is a rather special day. Well,

that's been a very musical hour, hasn't it? Compared to previous

Royal Openings. It has been gentle. They have been rather gentle the

tunes they've played which I think is to be applauded. She has got some

steps to climb down which I'm rather surprised about because I thought

they were going to have only a ramp that would take into consideration

the fact that the Queen is 90 years old. Her Royal Highness, and the

Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh making their farewells to the

Presiding Officer, Elin Jones, the Duchess of Cornwall there. They are

getting ready to leave the Assembly. The Royal Party go their separate

ways shortly. APPLAUSE

They have different engagements this afternoon. The Queen's next

engagement today is opening Cardiff University's new brain research

imaging centre just up the way. It has been called the most significant

advance in brain imaging in Europe in the last ten years. There is only

one other in the world, in a hospital in Boston, in the United

States. So that's where the Queen is going next. The Prince of Wales and

Duchess of Cornwall remain in Cardiff Bay for a lunch with

Assembly members. Let's hear now from our reporter who

has spent the morning with the crowds waiting to see the Queen.

Yes, thank you, Jamie. They have seen the Queen now. Let's get some

reaction from guests I've got here. Sarah, what did you make of the

Queen's visit today? Very inspirational. I've never seen the

Queen before. Only on the telly. I'm happy and I'm very privileged to be

here today to see the Queen come to such an iconic, important building

like this. So it was certainly worth coming for you? Definitely, yes.

What about you sir? What did you make of it? I thoroughly enjoyed.

Its always good to see the Queen and it is good to see her coming to

Wales recognising the importance of our country. Thank you for your

time. There we are from outside the Senedd back to you, Jamie. Thank you

very much indeed. A final word with our guests the Royal author Brian

Hoey and Sian Powell. Let's reflect on the Queen's word in her speech to

Assembly Members. Yes, she underlined the new powers that the

Assembly is going to be getting in the new Wales Bill and the need for

co-operation across the Assembly as they move forward as well which was

highlighted in the First Minister's speech as well. He offered the

opportunity and he invited all Assembly Members to work together to

build consensus. He talked about the Welsh economy and building

prosperity in Wales and suggested that forming, that this would be a

new Assembly where all Assembly Members need to work together and no

one feeling left out. Brian, your thoughts, briefly? It has been a

wonderful ceremonial occasion given the Royal seal of approval to what

is a very, very important occasion and of course, you have to remember

that not one of the laws that will be brought out by the Welsh

Government will become law unless they receive Royal Assent just like

the United Kingdom Government. It is exactly the same. And it was all a

harmonious event. I wonder how long it will last? Not very long, I

shouldn't think! LAUGHTER

Thank you both very much for your company today. That's just about it

from us. There will be more coverage of today's ceremony a little later

on Wales Today and on the BBC News website. We leave you with some of

the sights and sounds from this morning's Royal Opening of the

National Assembly. Thank you for joining us.