Prince William speaks Welsh in video to mark St David’s Day

The Prince of Wales has marked St David’s Day with his first message delivered in the Welsh language.

The pre-recorded video, posted on Saturday, sees William paying tribute to Wales’ “history, its culture, and its incredible people” – or rather, “ei hanes, ei diwylliant a’i phobl anhygoel”.

While the prince has been known to greet people in Welsh, it is the first time he has spoken full sentences in public.

It is not thought William is taking formal Welsh lessons. According to The Times, the prince has been learning using the Duolingo app.

His words in Welsh follow a visit to Wales with the Princess of Wales on Wednesday, when the couple toured Pontypridd and cooked Welsh cakes for a market stall holder.

In the video, the Prince is seen wearing a daffodil, the national symbol of Wales.

Happy St David’s Day from The Prince of Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus gan Dywysog Cymru 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 pic.twitter.com/0PryZlImBl— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal)

Translated into English, the future king says: “Hello. Today, on St David’s Day, we come together to celebrate Wales – its history, its culture, and its incredible people.

“From its breathtaking landscapes to its language, Wales continues to inspire.

“Today, we will celebrate everything that is magical about Wales.

“To the people of Wales and everybody around the world, Happy St David’s Day.”

According to The Times, the Princess of Wales has also been learning conversational Welsh, and the couple have been helping their children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, learn some too

The King had formal lessons in the Welsh language, studying from April to June 1969 at Aberystwyth University ahead of his investiture as the Prince of Wales in July that year at Caernarfon Castle.

Charles’s tutor was the Welsh nationalist Tedi Millward but despite their apparent differences the two men became firm friends.

William has not had an investiture since his father announced he had created his eldest son and heir as Prince of Wales during his first televised address as monarch, the day after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.