The Royal Welsh Celebration
The Council is hosting the Reaffirmation of the Freedom of the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf upon The Royal Welsh, a Welsh Infantry Regiment, at a special event to be held in Pontypridd this weekend (Saturday, October 8).
The Council are facilitating this event as The Royal Welsh exercise their right, as Freemen of Rhondda Cynon Taf, by marching through the streets of the County Borough.
The ceremony will take place in Pontypridd, starting at the bandstand at Ynysangharad War Memorial Park at 11am on Saturday, October 8.
This will be followed by a parade through the town centre directly after, at approximately 11.30am.
The public are invited to gather around the bandstand and also to line the route through Pontypridd town centre and to be a part of this special day.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Mayor, Cllr Rhys Lewis, said: “It is a huge honour for our County Borough to once again be hosting The Royal Welsh.”
“Having been granted the Freedom of Rhondda Cynon Taf six years ago, the Regiment is now exercising its right to parade through our streets.”
“The Reaffirmation of the Freedom of the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf upon the Royal Welsh will be a special day.”
“Around 10,000 people gathered in Pontypridd to see The Royal Welsh Regiment being granted the Freedom of the County Borough in April, 2010,
and I hope as many people as possible will come along to support our Armed Forces on October 8.”
The Royal Welsh, Regimental Secretary, Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Chris Kilmister, said: “The Regiment has always had a very close relationship with Pontypridd and its people.
“Many of our officers and soldiers come from the County Borough, and we have always had a warm reception from the community.
“The Freedom of a town or borough is a very high honour and one The Royal Welsh is extremely proud to have had granted.
“The Reffirmation of that Freedom will give the officers and soldiers on parade a great sense of pride and pleasure.”
The Royal Welsh, Regimental Adjutant, Captain Ben Phillips said: “Conducting a Freedom Parade in Pontypridd is a really important opportunity to highlight our strong links back to one of our key communities in Wales.
“As Royal Welshmen, we represent our friends, families and wider Welsh society in everything that we do, on home soil or overseas.
“This Parade is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how much we, as a Regiment, value the support of communities we serve.
“Our national identity and affinity for our homeland binds us all together, through times of hardship and joy, our bond with our home communities and as brother Royal Welshmen always endures.
“I would encourage all supporters of the British Military, and more specifically The Royal Welsh, to attend the Freedom Parade and join the Regiment for a historic event in South Wales.”
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.
The Reaffirmation of the Freedom of the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf upon The Royal Welsh Regiment takes place in Pontypridd on Saturday, October 8, from 11am onwards.
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