"It's wonderful to see the Senedd uses the Welsh language so often not just as a symbolic use, but as its foundation," the King said in an address to the chamber.

The King used both Welsh and English as he talked about his affection for "this ancient land" and how it was a privilege to share in the occasion.

He said the Senedd's 25th anniversary was a milestone in a journey Wales had been on for all of his life.

It had given Wales " a distinct voice", delivered with "clarity and purpose", he added.

The King also talked about his son Prince William returning to Ynys Mon this week, a place "that means so much to him".

Members of the Senedd smile at King Charles as he says: "There are many different ways to love and serve one's country - and what a country you have to serve.

"What a unique mosaic of places, landscapes and culture that is entrusted to your care."

King Charles is addressing MSs in the chamber.

"The Queen and I are so delighted to join you today as we mark this significant milestone in our history - the 25th anniversary of Welsh devolution.

"During times which have seen great change, profound sorrow and tremendous achieving - through it out my respect and affection for the people of this ancient land have depended with every passing year," he says.

King Charles begins by speaking Welsh and thanking the Llywydd of the Senedd.

Image source, Welsh Parliament

Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, is also addressing the royal couple.

He said: "In two years' time this will become an even stronger and an even fairer parliament."

He added that we should "nurture our Senedd, our democracy".

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies is now addressing the royal couple.

He says it's a "huge privilege for me to stand here" and devolution has "shaped the future we now know in this land."

"This parliament is where the beating heart of welsh democracy lies," he added.

Image source, Welsh Parliament

Watch the military band arrive at the Senedd along with soldiers for the guard of honour

Image source, Welsh Parliament

King Charles and Queen Camilla have entered the chamber.

Everyone is seated while Elin Jones MS gives opening remarks.

First Minister Vaughan Gething is now speaking of the impact that devolution has had on the country and the UK.

"It is vital to the health of both the United Kingdom and of Wales that our democratic institutions flourish," he said.

He also addresses the King and Queen Camilla in the Welsh language.

King and Queen Charles has been greeted by the Lord-Lieutenant of South Glamorgan: Morfudd Meredith and Deputy Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, Sue Thomas.

The choir of young children sang while he shook hands with the first minister Vaughan Gething.

The have all entered the building now for the ceremony

The King and Queen have entered the Senedd.

School children gathered excitedly to watch.

Image source, PA Media

Shortly before the King and Queen arrive, a Guard of Honour by the Royal Welsh perform outside the doors of the Senedd.

They're playing God Save the King

The crowd size has swelled, and a number of UK and Welsh flags are being waved as the crowd waits for their arrival.

Here's a load of words you won't hear from the Senedd chamber.

You can be forgiven for thinking that any insult goes in politics these days but, believe it or not, you can't insult or question another AM's honesty in the Senedd chamber.

Politicians have been reprimanded for swearing in the chamber while abusive insults such as "bumbling idiot", "rent-a-gob", "hypocrites", "pathetic" and "political vermin" are among more than 50 words or phrases that are unacceptable.

Describing the late Queen Elizabeth as a "parasite" and "Mrs Windsor" is also "unparliamentary" - as former Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood found out in 2004.

Gareth Lewis
BBC Wales political editor

Now let's go through some of the biggest headline-grabbing policies made in the Senedd or Welsh Assembly since devolution in 1999.

Let's start with the latest - and probably the one that has captured people's attention the most - and that's lowering the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph on residential roads.

Such was - or is - the controversy, the government under new First Minister Vaughan Gething has now promised changes because of the backlash.

And remember there was no masking the controversy around some of Wales' Covid regulations during the pandemic as, on the whole, they tended to be stricter than those in neighbouring England.

The Senedd will, however, argue that over the past 25 years it helped deliver some pioneering, agenda-setting legislation for such a young legislative body.

For example, it was the first UK nation to:

·Introduce a minimum 5p charge on single-use carrier bags

·Force food outlets to prominently display food hygiene inspection ratings

·Introduce presumed consent on organ donations

·Introduce free prescriptions for all

·Introduce free parking at hospitals

·Bring in universal free school meals for all primary age children.

But the Welsh government's plans to restrict what is sold in meal deals has not gone down well - probably highlighting why politicians usually avoid getting their teeth into voters' diets.

Ministers want meal deals with a high fat, sugar or salt content to be restricted under plans to tackle obesity and diabetes.

For more on the times Welsh policies have hit the headlines, read my piece here.

Labour have had the most assembly or Senedd seats in all the Welsh elections since devolution.

In fact, now the Welsh Labour government is the longest standing administration in the UK.

But in '99, especially just two years after Tony Blair's New Labour landslide general election triumph, Labour was expected to do much better and gain overall assembly control.

However, it got a bloody nose from Plaid Cymru shocking political commentators by winning seats in Labour strongholds like Islwyn, Rhondda and Llanelli.

It all started going wrong for Labour with the Ron Davies scandal and the man who was going to be Wales' first first minister - or secretary as it was back then - quitting after a "moment of madness" on Clapham Common.

Many felt Blair then imposed Alun Michael to lead Welsh Labour when the grassroots wanted Rhodri Morgan, who later did become leader.

"You cannot spend over a year wrangling inside the party fighting a bitter leadership and expect to just sail in," Peter - now Lord - Hain said at the time. "There are serious lessons for Labour here."

Plaid capitalised and mobilised its vote, crashing Labour's 1999 party - and Labour has usually had to rely on votes of members from other parties to govern ever since 1999 - with the exception of a short period in the early 2000s.

Wales saw its fifth first minister - or prif weinidog in Welsh - earlier this year. The first minister chairs the Welsh cabinet and is in charge of Welsh government policy - but who have they been?

Vaughan Gething (2024 - ): The 50-year-old former economy and health minister won a Welsh Labour leadership contest in March. The father-of-one and lawyer became Europe's first black leader and wants "a modern Wales".

Mark Drakeford (2018- 2024): He led Wales through the Covid pandemic before standing down in 2024.

Carwyn Jones (2009 - 2018): Jones saw a change in party at UK government level from his Labour colleagues to the Conservatives, a Brexit vote he campaigned against and a steel jobs crisis. But he quit in the "darkest of times" after Carl Sargeant was found dead days after Jones had sacked him as a minister.

Rhodri Morgan (2000 - 2009): Described as a father figure to Welsh devolution and the most popular politician of his generation, Morgan was credited with bringing stability to the fledgling assembly after a turbulent start in his own idiosyncratic style.

Alun Michael (1999 - 2000): Wales' first first minister was supposed to be "architect of devolution" Ron Davies, but he quit as Welsh secretary after a scandal and Michael was voted in despite Labour's grassroots overwhelmingly backing Rhodri Morgan. Prime Minister Tony Blair is accused of parachuting Michael into Wales' new top job. Nine months into the first assembly, Michael quit after opposition parties proposed a no-confidence motion.

Oliver Slow
BBC Journalist in Cardiff Bay

There's about an hour until Charles and Camilla are expected to arrive, and a few hundred people are gathered outside the Senedd waiting.

After a morning of sunshine, there's an ominous looking cloud looming above, but that doesn't appear to be dampening the enthusiasm.

Anne-Mie Van Loock and Kim Timperman have travelled to the UK from Belgium on holiday.

It's a coincidence they're in Cardiff for the King and Queen's visit, but they admit they're "excited" to see them.

"It's not often you get to see the royal family is it?" Kim said.

They're on a two week holiday in the UK, and after Cardiff they'll travel by train to the Welsh coast for some walking.

"It's an exciting start to the trip'" said Anne-Mie.

Well, the people of Wales had to say they wanted it.

They did. Only just though. By the narrowest of margins - so tight that the BBC almost called it wrong.

There were only 6,721 votes in it but the yes campaign won the 1997 referendum despite some of Wales' biggest centres like Cardiff, Newport and Wrexham voting no.

While 50.3% of those that voted saying they wanted devolution, just 559,419 of Wales' registered voters actually voted yes - that's because the referendum turnout was only just over half of the electorate.

So from a total of more than 2.2m of those eligible to poll in 1997, less than 30% of those registered to vote said yes.

But it was enough to secure Welsh devolution and do what Wales had overwhelmingly rejected 18 years earlier by a four-to-one majority in the 1979 referendum.

And when devolution was put back on the political table by Tony Blair's new Labour after their 1997 general election manifesto promise, Wales took its second chance. Just.

Oliver Slow
BBC Journalist in Cardiff Bay

Pauline and Doug Lane's granddaughter will be performing in front of the King and Queen today.

"She's very excited and we're very proud," said Pauline, who lives in Cardiff.

They said they "dropped everything" to come, because their daughter and son-in-law couldn't get time off work to attend.

Pauline is from England, and says she is a royalist, while Doug - a Welshman - says he likes the royal family but wouldn't describe himself as a passionate royalist.

"I may never live this down," he jokes when I ask him for a photo holding the Union flag.

After the 1997 referendum returned a narrow majority in favour of devolution in Wales, the late Queen attended all six opening ceremonies for the Senedd.

Indeed, life peer Dafydd Elis-Thomas credits Queen Elizabeth II for bringing an acceptance of devolution in Wales.

Two years later, she arrived in an open-top carriage for the opening at the Senedd's initial home, Crickhowell House, on 26 May 1999.

Inside she signed a special edition of the Government of Wales Act, which symbolised the transfer of powers from Westminster.

When the new Senedd building was opened in 2006, the Royal Family was welcomed with a salute from HMS Westminster and a flypast of the Hawk trainer jets which had been based at RAF Valley on Anglesey.

She opened the Senedd for the final time in October 2021, and was accompanied by the Prince of Wales – now King Charles III.

Read more here

King Charles III made his first visit to Wales as monarch in September 2022.

He attended a service at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff before heading to the Senedd to accept a motion of condolence.

He later held an audience with Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford at Cardiff Castle.

Camilla, the Queen Consort, accompanied the King.

Then prime minister Liz Truss, who only held that role for seven weeks and lost her seat as MP in the recent general election, was also at the service.

Read more here