The Prince and Princess of Wales celebrated Black History Month in Cardiff

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The Prince and Princess of Wales celebrated Black History Month in Cardiff, which coincided with the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush to the UK. Prince William and Princess Catherine met with members of the Windrush generation.

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The Prince and Princess of Wales will meet members of the Windrush generation and celebrate the work of diverse community groups in the area. pic.twitter.com/VEkpSBCHD4

— Cardiff Council (@cardiffcouncil) October 3, 2023

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HMT Windrush Empire carried 1027 passengers and two stowaways on a voyage from Jamaica to London in 1948. Of these, more than 800 passengers gave their last country of residence as somewhere in the Caribbean. HMT Empire Windrush became a symbol of a wider mass-migration movement. The Windrush’s arrival has become symbolic of the generation of Commonwealth citizens who came to live in Britain between 1948 and 1971.  Empire Windrush was built in Germany and launched in Hamburg on 13 December 1930. However, the ship was not originally called the Empire Windrush. Instead, it was called the MV Monte Rosa

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The first stop of the day was the Grange Pavilion in the Welsh capital, where Prince William and Kate Middleton were greeted with warmth and cheers. The royal couple learned about the contributions of the Windrush generation to the Welsh community and how young minority ethnic individuals are driving positive change in Wales.

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“On June 21, 1948, 1,027 people from the Caribbean debarked the Empire Windrush in London. Many came to the U.K. to fill post-war labor shortages and forge a new life, the House of Lords Library states. The “Windrush generation” became shorthand for the those who relocated to the United Kingdom between 1948 and 1973, especially from Caribbean countries. In 2018, the government of the U.K. made Windrush Day (June 22) a holiday to commemorate the contributions of Windrush Generation and their descendants on national life.” – People’s report!

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Here, William and Kate met members of the Windrush Cymru Elders, Black History Cymru 365, and the Ethnic Minority Youth Forum. The Windrush Cymru Elders group was established in 2017 as part of the Race Council Cymru and aims to promote understanding of the concerns and needs of ethnic minority elders while also celebrating the contributions of the Windrush Generation and people of African descent in Wales.

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About the visit Kensington Palace said, “The Grange Pavilion is a partnership between Grange Pavilion Project, Grangetown Community Action, Cardiff University and Cardiff Council to redevelop the previously vacant bowls pavilion into a community facility. The Space offers a community cafe, employment and training opportunities, and has become a key meeting place for the Ethinic Minority Youth Forum, Windrush Cymru Elders, Black History Cymru 365″.

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesLast year, Prince William and Kate unveiled a memorial honoring the Windrush Generation in London.

Prince William and Princess Catherine also met with representatives of the Ethnic Minority Youth Forum—an advisory council for Race Council Cymru—that represents young people aged 11-25 who aim to be the voice of young ethnic individuals in Wales.

King Charles III commissioned ten leading artists, from Britain and abroad, to create portraits of ten pioneering members of the Windrush Generation. The ten portraits will go on display in an exhibition entitled ‘Windrush: Portraits of a Pioneering Generation’ at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh from 22nd June to mid-September 2023 and the National Portrait Gallery, London in October 2023 for approximately six months.

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Next on the agenda was a meeting with the Somali community. The Prince and Princess of Wales met with members of the Wales Somaliland Youth Links and Cardiff Bay Warriors FC to learn about their joint project of using football to unite communities.

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The last stop of the day saw the royal couple visiting Fitzalan High School to learn more about the wide range of opportunities the school provides to students, both in the academic curriculum and through vocational courses, as well as the work being done for the Windrush Generation. Every year since June 2018, commemorations are held on June 22nd to celebrate the Windrush.

The Prince and Princess of Wales received a musical welcome at Fitzalan School in Cardiff.

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Fitzalan High School, one of the most diverse schools in the region, has a majority of students who are descendants of the Windrush Generation. The school offers state-of-the-art facilities in its new building to help students achieve their full potential. The Prince and Princess of Wales met with the sixth-grade students and learned about the various projects they are involved in.

The Princess of Wales talked to the students about Prince George’s upcoming exam. Recently Kensington Palace explained that The Princess will not be joining her husband on the Earthshot prizes in Singapore as Prince George has exam. It’s believed that George is sitting for Eton college entrance exam at that time. Kate also revealed that she helps George with Maths and George has complains about being tested continuously.

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William and Kate also toured the immersion room, which included a brief lesson on life in Tiger Bay, a key area where the Windrush Generation settled and its unique culture. The royal couple was shown the newly built gate of the school, which embodies the motto “What Does Fitzalan Mean to Us”. The gate, designed by London-based designer Lara Sparey, features symbols and artwork reflecting the Welsh community and the school.

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What The Princess of Wales wore to Cardiff to celebrate Black History Month

• Holland Cooper Navy Chalk Pin Stripe Blazer and Matching Trousers – (Repeat – debuted in September 2023 for a meeting with Tim Cook)
• Holland Cooper Bodysuit – (Repeat – debuted in January 2021 during the video calls)
• Shyla London Rosalia Earrings – (Repeat – debuted in September 2023 when she visited Leeds and Lancaster)
• Gianvito Rossi Pumps – (Repeat – debuted in June 2022 during a Cardiff visit)