Welsh Republican bemused after Express claims his tweet ‘overshadowed’ Queen’s Welsh visit

An anonymous Welsh Republican Twitter account has reacted with bemusement after the Express claims that his tweet “overshadowed” the Queen’s visit.

“Queen’s Wales visit overshadowed by furious Welsh republicans” said a headline in the Express after the Queen visited Cardiff to open the sixth Senedd today.

But the basis for the claim was a single tweet from the account République Cymru, who said at 10am this morning: “We don’t need a monarch to validate our Senedd’s existence and right to exist as our seat of democracy within Wales.”

Speaking to Nation.Cymru, he expressed bemusement that a whole story had been conjured up by the “bloody Express” from his single tweet.

“It was a slow news day for them I guess,” he said. “I highly doubt it ‘overshadowed her trip to Cardiff’.

“Far more was said by many, just one voice amongst many saying the same, similar and perhaps in more detail. Hopefully, she had a nice day out down Cardiff bay.”

He added he had seen many tweets much more scathing than his own.

“To be honest, as the past few months have shown, no one should really take anonymous accounts with anything other than a pinch of salt,” he said.

‘Recovery’

The Senedd was officially opened for its sixth term by the Queen, in her first visit to Wales for five years, earlier today.

The monarch arrived in Cardiff Bay this morning and was accompanied by Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

A 21-gun salute sounded in Cardiff Bay to mark her arrival in the city, and at the steps of the Senedd she was greeted by pupils from Mount Stuart Primary School.

She was then met by First Minister Mark Drakeford, an avowed republican, and the Llywydd Elin Jones, before mace-bearer Shaz Khan led her into the debating chamber.

The Queen told Senedd members there were “many challenges ahead” in the sixth session of the parliament.

She said: “As you work together to promote the wellbeing of the people of Wales, and support the recovery effort, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and I extend our warmest good wishes to you for the sixth session of this parliament, and hope you have every success with your endeavours.

“When I was here for the last opening in 2016, I noted that the fifth assembly would mark a significant development in the history of devolution in Wales.

“Since then, further measures have been taken to strengthen the foundations of your parliamentary democracy.

“The Wales Act 2017 establish this parliament on a new basis.

“And you use this legislation to help the public better understand your work, and to include more people in the democratic process. As a result, this parliament is now recognised in law.”