Charles, Camilla and William to commemorate Aberfan disaster
King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William will make a rare joint public appearance on 21 October to mark the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster, the worst mining disaster in British history. The three royals will pay their respects to the 144 victims—116 schoolchildren and 28 adults—who died when a vast colliery waste tip collapsed onto Pantglas Junior School in 1966. The visit is particularly significant given that Queen Elizabeth was heavily criticised for not visiting the village for eight days following the tragedy.
On 21 October 1966 at 9.13am, 150,000 tonnes of coal slurry swept down the hillside and engulfed the school, which was packed with children about to break for half-term, leaving entire streets without any survivors. King Charles will meet Gareth Jones, now 66, who survived as a six-year-old and was photographed with his late father Prince Philip the day after the disaster—a powerful image that has remained in Mr Jones' living room for six decades. Mr Jones, recently discharged from hospital after a serious illness and determined to stand for the royal meeting, will show the photograph to King Charles and Queen Camilla during their visit.
- King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William to mark Aberfan disaster's 60th anniversary
- Coal slurry collapse killed 144 people, including 116 schoolchildren, at Pantglas Junior School
- King meets survivor photographed with Prince Philip day after 1966 tragedy
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The Aberfan disaster occurred on 21 October 1966 in a small mining village in Wales when a massive tip of coal waste collapsed without warning and engulfed Pantglas Junior School. The disaster killed 144 people, including 116 schoolchildren, making it the worst mining disaster in British history. The entire community was devastated, with some streets losing all their inhabitants in a single moment.
The tragedy had lasting repercussions for Aberfan and raised lasting questions about industrial safety, mining practices and how Britain's institutions responded to the catastrophe. Queen Elizabeth II's delayed visit to the village, coming eight days after the disaster, became a subject of historical criticism and reflection on royal duty. The disaster remains a defining moment in twentieth-century British history, with profound effects on survivors and descendants in Aberfan to this day.
The village and its people have endured decades since the tragedy, with some survivors still living there and carrying memories of the disaster throughout their lives. Aberfan remains a place of remembrance where the community has worked to preserve the memory of those who died and to ensure the lessons of the disaster are not forgotten. The 60th anniversary marks a significant milestone in the collective memory of this tragedy.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla will make a rare public appearance together next week to mark the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster”.