Queen opens Welsh Assembly

The Queen officially opened the Welsh Assembly as Assembly Members gathered for the fourth session at the Senedd.

The presence of the Queen marks a new period for the Assembly, which for the first time will be passing Assembly Acts. She praised the Welsh Assembly during yesterday's visit, saying it had an "impressive record of achievement" and had "coped admirably with the growth in powers granted to it".

The Queen, dressed in a turquoise and white dress with matching hat and knee-length coat, was met by Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler and First Minister Carwyn Jones, who was re-appointed after leading Labour to victory in last month's Assembly elections.

Mr Jones's appointment was rubber-stamped by the Queen after he was reinstated at the Assembly's first post-election plenary session, but this was her first visit to the Senedd since 2007.

The Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall also attended yesterday's opening.

The royal party was greeted by hundreds of schoolchildren who cheered and waved flags as they stood on the steps.

A flypast of four Hawks from 208(R) Squadron RAF Valley flew overhead following both the English and Welsh national anthems.

Opening the Assembly, the Queen congratulated Welsh AMs on their election.

She told AMs the Assembly was there to represent Wales and its people, make laws for Wales and hold the government of Wales to account.