Image source, Senedd Cymru

King Charles says there are many new faces in the Senedd, and familiar faces who he suggests may say "Yma o Hyd", refrrencing the Dafydd Iwan song which means "we're still here".

No one can have failed to have been struck by how the colours of the countryside changed during the heatwave, he says.

The King says he is sure everyone shares the concern for the environment.

He praises Welsh people "sense of belonging", and says he will be visiting Aberfan, scene of the 1966 coal tip disaster, next week.

He says he is enormously touched that people from the community are here today.

Irranca-Davies' speech makes a bid for the Senedd to find common ground.

He says it is the most representative Senedd in its history

The presiding officer says their experiences can help them make better decisions, and it is a profound honour for him to be presiding officer.

In what appears to be a call for civility from MSs, he adds: "This institution is at its very best when we recognise that disagreement need not mean division".

He calls on people to find "common ground where we can".

Irranca-Davies says the "best of Wales is its people" and the Welsh parliament "belongs to them".

"It belongs to the communities we represent, to those who put their trust in us, and to those young people who will inherit what we build," he says.

"Let us be ambitious for this institution, but always remember why it exists and what and who we serve."

Irranca-Davies is speaking about the importance of democracy and the Senedd.He says: "The people of Wales have placed their trust in us. They are entitled to expect honesty, respect and integrity from those who represent them.

"Those standards are not an optional addition to our democracy. They are essential to the trust on which democracy depends."

The King and Queen have taken their places within the Senedd Siambr, alongside the presiding officer Huw Irranca-Davies.

Irranca-Davies is now addressing the Senedd.

King Charles shakes hands with First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth on the steps of the Senedd

The Royal car has arrived at the Senedd.

God save the King is played, followed by Hen Wlad fy Nhadau.

Chants of "not my King" can be heard in the background too.

The Royal gun salute is firing 21 rounds outside the Senedd to mark the arrival of the Royal Family in Cardiff.

The crowd outside goes quiet - many are wearing ear plugs, handed out by the police, because of the loud noise.

David Deans
BBC Wales political reporter at the Senedd

Angharad Wyn Jones and Dylan Cernyw are among the harpists taking part in the ceremony today.

The pair are performing in the Neaudd of the Senedd as a duo.

Dylan says: "We've travelled up from north Wales last night. It's nice to be here and play here - it's years since I've been here performing."

Angharad said they had a varied programme. "Contemporary, popular, folk," she says, "a bit of Jazz as well".

Today is a special event, she says. "It's quite a privilege."

It was actually the then-Prince Charles who revived the historical position of the Official Harpist in 2000, to support young musical talent and highlight Welsh culture.

It features during officials state visits, motions of condolence, or anniversaries at the Senedd, honouring Welsh heritage, language and local artistic tradition.

Watch as Members of the Senedd and First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth arrive at the Senedd ahead of the ceremony.

Wales' national poet will not be presenting today as planned after her work was ruled "not the right fit".

Hanan Issa's submitted poem refers to issues including Gaza and transgender healthcare.

"I am not welcome anymore... this is the chamber where political discussion is had, and this very much says that political discussion framed as a poem is not welcome," she tells BBC Wales.

She says she offered a second version of the poem with "more abstract language" - but this has also been turned down.

The Senedd commission says it "concluded that the poem was not the right fit for this occasion", adding: "We respect the National Poet of Wales' artistic independence and continue to admire and value their work."

You can read more on the story here.

David Deans
Wales political reporter at the Senedd

Today is the first official event involving the first minister and King Charles III since Rhun ap Iorwerth's Plaid Cymru took hold of the Welsh government.

A big moment, because ap Iorwerth is Wales' first ever first minister from Plaid - a party that is rooted in a strong republican tradition, and is pro-Welsh independence.

Ap Iorwerth was once even a member of a band called 69 - a reference to the controversial investiture of the Prince of Wales.

There is no suggestion of protest from the Plaid MSs that are here - as far as we know - a demonstration of the pragmatism Plaid is having to show as a party of government.

Senedd authorities have over the years argued that the ceremony demonstrates the place that the parliament has in the life of the UK.

That is something that seemed on rocky ground in the very early days of what was then known as the National Assembly for Wales.

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth and Huw Irranca-Davies, presiding officer of the Senedd, have just arrived at the ceremony.

They are closely followed by Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Darren Millar.

Image source, Getty Images

The Prince of Wales is not taking part in today's ceremony.

Since taking on the title when his father became King, Prince William has not taken part in an official opening ceremony at the Senedd.

He has visited once, in 2022, where he was presented with a bucket hat by the then presiding officer Elin Jones.

There has been tension over the Prince's title. In 2022, a senior Plaid Cymru MS said the announcement of the naming of William for the role was divisive.

King Charles took part in previous opening ceremonies when he was Prince of Wales.

No reason has been given as to why the prince is not here.

About 10 people are gathered, facing the Senedd, holding a banner with the words "For a Socialist republic of Wales".

Other anti-monarchy protestors are holding placard with the words "Abolish the Monarchy", "Down with the Crown", and "Not my King".

There’s several police officers patrolling the area but, at the moment, the protest appears peaceful.

David Deans
Wales political reporter at the Senedd

BBC journalists have been given a view of the ceremony from the Oriel - the part of the Senedd that sits just above the Neuadd, where much of the ceremony will take place before the speeches in the chamber later.

Senedd staff members, members of the military, and others involved in today's proceedings are starting to gather here.

In the background on the Senedd steps, through the windows, crowds are waiting for the King and Queen to arrive.

An official opening of the Senedd is held after an election has taken place, marking a new term in the Welsh Parliament.

Elizabeth II opened the first National Assembly for Wales in 1999, and opened every new term - including after the name changed to the Senedd or Welsh Parliament - until 2021.

The last time King Charles III visited was in 2024 to mark 25 years of the Senedd.

Annell Dyfri
Reporting from outside the Senedd

The sun is shining on the Senedd building this morning as crowds begin to gather at its steps.

The inside of the Senedd looks busy as well, with Merched Plastaf choir and harpists ready for the event to begin.

Primary school pupils are practicing singing the national anthem outside, while members of the press and the public wait for the King to arrive.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will officially open the Senedd's seventh term today during a visit to Wales.

It will be the first time the King has visited the Welsh Parliament since 2024, and the first official meeting with Rhun ap Iorwerth since he became Wales' first minister.

The meeting with the leader of Plaid Cymru - a pro-independence party rooted in a strong republican tradition - will mark a significant and symbolic moment after its first election victory in May.

It emerged last night that Wales' national poet had been pulled from performing at the ceremony at the last minute, with Senedd officials rejecting the poem she had written for the event.

We'll bring you live updates from Cardiff Bay, and you can watch the ceremony live by clicking play at the top of this page from 12:00 BST.