Britain’s Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla visited the Senghenydd memorial in Wales today (03.07.14).
The Prince of Wales and his wife paid tribute to the 440 people – including 439 miners and one rescuer – who lost their lives in a tragic mining explosion on 14 October 1913 by laying a wreath at the memorial.
The sombre occasion took place on the fourth day of the royal couple’s summer tour of Wales.
The national memorial dedicated in Senghenydd, near Caerphilly, was unveiled last year to mark the centenary of the tragedy.
In addition to visiting the memorial, Charles, 65, and Camilla, 66, opened the Aber Valley Heritage Centre which chronicles the history of the valleys in south Wales.
Speaking during the visit, Charles is quoted by BBC News as saying: "My wife and I have so enjoyed this opportunity to meet you all and if I may say so to have a chance to pay our respects at the memorial.
"I think we owe such an enormous debt of gratitude, respect and appreciation to those people – so many from the same families – who went underground and were courageous and determined enough to do so.
"Both of us are enormously proud to have this opportunity to be here."
Charles and Camilla visit mining memorial
