What will the King's Speech mean for Wales?

King Charles opened Parliament on Wednesday

Welsh rail services will be fully nationalised under measures announced in the King’s Speech, outlining the new UK government’s priorities in office.

There was also a promise that the new UK government would “strengthen its work” with the Welsh government.

Wales’ First Minister Vaughan Gething said it marked "a welcome reset in relations" between UK and devolved governments.

But Plaid Cymru said the UK Labour government’s plans were "holding Wales back" while the Welsh Conservatives called for more support "for our steel communities".

The 35 measures and four draft measures in the King’s Speech, marking the official opening of the new parliament after the election, ranged from a promise to tackle knife crime, stopping criminal gangs making a trade from small boat crossings and restricting zero-hours contracts.

The measure to nationalise all rail services aims to improve passenger journeys and lead to savings for the public purse, following years of complaints over delays, cancellations and ticket costs.

In Wales there are four rail franchises in place.

Transport for Wales is already owned by the Welsh government, but Avanti West Coast, Great Western Railways and Arriva CrossCountry also run services between Wales and England.

The first of those contracts comes to an end in October 2026.

There was also a measure to set up a publicly owned clean energy company, Great British Energy.

The company will have its headquarters in Scotland, but with an aim of investing £8.3bn over the next five years in clean energy projects across the UK, including floating offshore wind.

Commenting on the measures, RenewableUK Cymru’s director, Jess Hooper said: "Onshore and offshore wind present a major economic opportunity, especially for Wales.

"This week saw the launch of Wales’ own state-owned developer, Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, which will work closely with Great British Energy to overcome barriers and speed up project delivery, while supporting engagement with local communities."

All Welsh train services will be nationalised under plans

Plaid Cymru said the UK government was "holding Wales back" by not giving powers of the Crown Estate, with control over the sea bed off the coast of Wales, to the Welsh government.

That was despite a Crown Estates Bill in the King’s Speech, which has the aim of promoting the use of the sea bed for clean energy projects.

Plaid’s Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts said: "There were no measures to address the deeply unfair funding formula that short-changes Wales billions in rail infrastructure spending.

"Neither was there a commitment to end the cruel two-child limit, impacting 65,000 children in Wales – 11% of all children."

Labour has promised to establish a public energy company

There was no specific mention Labour's manifesto pledge of Votes at 16 in the King’s Speech, only a commitment to "encourage wide participation in the democratic process".

The Welsh government has already permitted 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in Senedd elections and for council elections in Wales, and UK Labour has previously indicated its support for extending it to all UK elections.

But the King’s Speech did include a commitment from the UK government to establish a new council for the nations and regions to "strengthen its work with the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland".

The Welsh Conservatives welcomed elements of the King’s Speech, but Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies said people in Wales were "crying out for an end to economic unfairness".

"That can begin if the new UK government urgently delivers for our steel communities and sends a message that no community in Wales will be left behind in the drive for growth."

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said the speech outlined her party’s "bold and ambitious" programme for government.

She added: "The new government has already shown its clear support for Welsh steelmaking and acted to reset the relationship with the devolved governments."

Mr Gething, who announced his resignation on Tuesday, added he and Finance Secretary Rebecca Evans met the Welsh secretary on Wednesday morning.

"These meetings provided an opportunity for a warm and positive discussion and demonstrated a respect for our devolved landscape and a genuine appetite on all sides to work together," he said.