Pontypridd Welcomes The Royal Welsh

Thousands of well-wishers flocked to Pontypridd at the weekend to welcome The Royal Welsh back to Rhondda Cynon Taf. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Royal Welsh, a Welsh Infantry Regiment, proudly marched through the streets in full Regimental Colours. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Reaffirmation of the Freedom of the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf upon The Royal Welsh was facilitated by the Council after the Regiment received the Freedom of the County Borough in 2010. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Rhys Lewis, Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: “It was a huge honour to be a part of this special event as The Royal Welsh exercised their right to March through the streets of the County Borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Hundreds of people converged on Ynysangharad War Memorial Park to welcome them, and hundreds more lined the streets of the town centre. It was such a wonderful spectacle to witness, and also very moving. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Council is proud of the support it provides, through the Armed Forces Covenant, to service men and women, their families and veterans and it was a pleasure for us to be able to welcome the Royal Welsh back to Pontypridd for the Reaffirmation of the Freedom of the Borough.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The ceremony started at the bandstand at Ynysangharad War Memorial Park at 11am, followed by the military parade. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Royal Welsh was formed on St David’s Day 2006 but it inherited a Regimental history that spans over 300 years from its antecedent units. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Regiment has gained over 200 battle honours and 43 of its soldiers have received Britain’s highest award for valour – the Victoria Cross. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Today, The Royal Welsh is one of the most experienced units in the British Army with a strong sense of identity. It is the Infantry Regiment at the heart of Wales with the vast majority of Royal Welshmen recruited from Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Royal Welshmen have deployed to every recent theatre of conflict in service of their country, fostering a formidable reputation on the battlefield. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Royal Welsh will parade through Pontypridd with its Regimental Colours, the Regimental Band, Ceremonial Pioneers and the Regimental Goat leading the parade. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​