King Charles marked his 77th birthday with a hands-on transport experience, officially opening the new South Wales Metro Depot in Taff's Well near Cardiff.
A Royal Birthday Celebration
During the visit on Friday 14 November 2025, the monarch didn't just cut ribbons - he briefly took the controls of a tram-train named Myddfai within the depot. The King engaged with Transport for Wales staff during this significant birthday outing.
The Billion-Pound Transport Hub
This purpose-built depot represents a massive £1 billion investment in Welsh infrastructure. The facility will maintain a fleet of 36 tram-trains and is expected to create approximately 400 new jobs for the region. The South Wales Metro system is scheduled to launch to the public next year.
Birthday Festivities Continue
Earlier in the day, the King and Queen attended a separate birthday reception at Cyfarthfa Castle in Merthyr Tydfil. There, the monarch performed the traditional duty of cutting a replica birthday cake for the gathered well-wishers.
This birthday celebration comes after a period of significant personal and public events for the King, including his cancer diagnosis, his brother Andrew's scandal, and historic visits to the Vatican and with US President Donald Trump.
