King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales joined survivors and bereaved families in Aberfan on the 60th anniversary of the disaster that devastated the village near Merthyr Tydfil. On 21 October 1966, a coal waste tip from the Merthyr Vale Colliery collapsed, sending 150,000 tonnes of slurry down the hillside, engulfing Pantglas Junior School and nearby houses.
In a speech at the Aberfan and Merthyr Vale Community Centre, the King said the day 'was and always will be, the saddest and most tragic of days imaginable.' He praised the community's 'unconquerable spirit' and said: 'No one should ever have to bear what you, as a community, have endured, but no one could have borne it with greater strength, resilience, or hope.'
Those who died included 116 children and 28 adults. An official inquiry in 1967 found the National Coal Board responsible for the disaster, but no one has ever been prosecuted. Survivors have long pointed to what they see as subsequent injustices, including money being taken from a public disaster fund to help remove remaining tips and limited compensation.
Jeff Edwards, who survived the disaster as an eight-year-old pupil, addressed the gathering, saying 21 October 1966 was 'forever etched into our memory, a day of unimaginable tragedy and loss that changed the lives of families and the community forever.' He noted the 'lasting and deeply valued' support from the royal family over the years.
Earlier, Prince William visited Ynysowen Community Primary School, built on the legacy of Pantglas, where he unveiled an Aberfan Memorial Tree sculpture. He told pupils: 'It shows the next generation does care about them, and it matters.' The school's headteacher, Simone Roden, and Edwards developed the concept, with pupils contributing drawings and ideas.
First Minister of Wales Rhun ap Iorwerth also attended. Church bells rang 144 times, once for each victim, and pupils at Ynysowen held a minute's silence in remembrance.