Today, the Prince and Princess of Wales honored the memory of those lost in the tragic 1966 coal mining disaster by visiting the Aberfan Memorial Garden. This event marks the UK’s most devastating mining disaster.
Discover more at the History Channel.
On a fateful morning on October 21, 1966, a massive landslide of coal waste devastated a small Welsh mining village, claiming the lives of 116 children and 28 adults, leaving only five survivors. This catastrophe destroyed half of the village’s youth population.
The landslide, which sent 140,000 cubic yards of coal waste cascading down at 40 feet high from the Merthyr Vale Colliery, demolished homes and a school. This disaster was primarily caused by poor construction and accumulated water within the colliery’s waste piles.
Below, the 1966 rescue efforts at Pantglas Primary School.
The Memorial Garden now stands on the former school site.
Below, a 1966 mass funeral scene.
The majority of the children who perished were aged between seven and ten.
Royal visits to Aberfan have been frequent over the years. Below, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II meet with the families affected by the tragedy shortly after the event.
The Prince of Wales attended the fiftieth-anniversary services in October 2016, reading a message from his mother.
“I vividly recall my visit with Prince Philip after the disaster, receiving a posy from a young girl with the poignant message ‘from the remaining children of Aberfan’. We have visited several times since, always struck by the resilience, dignity, and spirit of the community here,” the Queen reflected.
The Queen during her 2012 Jubilee Tour with Jeff Edwards, the last child rescued from the disaster.
More insights from ITV’s coverage.
Opened in 1974 by Queen Elizabeth II, the garden serves as a memorial for the victims and a place of solace for their families, survivors, and the community.
A brief video from today as the couple arrived at the memorial.
The flowers left by the couple.
The Prince and Princess with David Davies, a child survivor of the disaster.
From The Evening Standard’s story about today’s engagement.
They met with trustees from the Aberfan Memorial Trust and members of the Aberfan Wives group, who have lost loved ones in the disaster. This marks the royal couple’s first visit to the village near Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales.
Another view.
More from The Daily Mail’s article.
Gareth Jones, a 63-year-old survivor, recounted his escape from Pantglas School during the disaster. He shared his story with the Princess, expressing how the Royal Family’s continued remembrance means a lot to the survivors.
After touring the memorial, the royals engaged with the gathered well-wishers.
The Princess converses with Gaynor Madgwick, who lost two siblings in the disaster, as she shows newspaper clippings of past royal visits.
A youngster in the crowd was captivated by the Princess’s handbag.
One-year-old Daniel Williams was so taken with it, he decided to hold onto it.
In this video, you can hear Daniel’s mother, Lucy Williams, gently coaxing, “Okay, let’s give it back.” The Princess found the interaction quite amusing.
One more photo from today’s engagement.
Now for our look at what Kate wore.
She was dressed in a Catherine Walker coat and a Zara dress previously seen on several occasions. The coat was last worn to view floral tributes for the late Queen at Sandringham and again during a visit to Hayes Muslim Centre.
The Zara dress, first worn in January 2020 for a visit to Bradford in West Yorkshire, reappeared for an engagement at University College London in October 2021. This midi-length dress features an oversized houndstooth print, a pleated skirt, and a v-neck with an attached bow.
The Princess accessorized with her Small Amberley Crossbody bag by Mulberry and bespoke Gianvito Rossi boots. She also wore Emily Mortimer’s Hera White Gold and Diamond Earrings, along with a diamond leek brooch first noted during a St. David’s Day visit with the Welsh Guards.
