23 August 2023 , 19:37
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Prince William and Kate are to make an emotional pilgrimage to a cathedral in Wales where the late Queen visited, on the first anniversary of her death.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will on Friday, September 8, visit St David’s Cathedral, on the day they will lead tributes to the late Queen. A year to the day of her passing, William and Kate - who became Prince and Princess of Wales on King Charles’ accession to the throne - will visit communities in south Wales to kick start their autumn plans after the summer break.
Prince William is on the day expected to lead tributes from the royal family, paying homage to the life and legacy of Elizabeth II, but any message will strongly “look to the future”, sources have said. William is not expected to speak at the cathedral but the couple will be shown around the ancient church in St David's, the UK’s smallest city.
The King will be at Balmoral (PA)
It's almost a year since the nation was plunged into mourning for Queen Elizabeth II (Getty Images)A source said: “It will be an emotional day for all the royal family, as well as many people across Britain, recognising this date.
“But of course for others it will be just another day and life goes on.” Royal sources suggested William and Kate chose to be in Wales, as they had only been three times in the last year and the Queen had a unique connection with St David's Cathedral.
Since the early 1500s, one of the Quire Stalls has been in the possession of the Crown – named the Sovereign’s Stall. And as Sovereign, the late Queen held the First Canon Cursal Stall in the Quire among the Cathedral Chapter, and she took her place there on some of her four visits to the Cathedral.
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She was also the first monarch to visit the Cathedral since the Reformation. King Charles III will pay tribute to his mother "quietly and privately" at the Balmoral estate in Scotland, where she died aged 96. William and Kate are also thought to be visiting a coastal site attached to the company Nopla - the winners of last year’s Earthshot prize, the environmental competition set up by Prince William - which make packaging from seaweed and plants.
Kensington Palace did not comment.