The King has hailed his “special connection” with Wales during an address to the Welsh Parliament.

He spoke at the ceremonial opening of the Senedd on Thursday, attending the event with the Queen for the first time since he became monarch.

Chants of “not my King” and “down, down, down with the Crown” could be heard as Charles and Camilla greeted First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth and Huw Irranca-Davies, the Llywydd (presiding officer) outside the parliament.

The ceremonial opening follows a Senedd election and includes an address by the King to Members of the Senedd in the Siambr (debating chamber).

He said on Thursday: “I have always felt immensely privileged, and proud, to have had such a special connection with Wales – with its language, its culture and its landscape – for so much of my life.

“As you take forward your task of government, we know you will bear always in mind, and draw inspiration from, those shared strengths, as you work on behalf of the people of this most special corner of the Earth.”

“Pob bendith ar eich gwaith er lles y wlad arbennig hon,” he added in Welsh, meaning: “Heartfelt thanks for your work for the welfare and success of this special land.”

During his visit, Charles met Noah and Charlie Jones, whose great-grandfather, Stephen Andrew, was a caretaker at Pantglas Junior School and helped save the lives of many children in the Aberfan disaster.

Charles, Camilla and the Prince of Wales will visit Aberfan next week to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the tragedy.

Noah, 10, said he was “excited, nervous, but happy” to meet the King.

His mother, Gemma Bray, said Charles had commented “how handsome” the boys were and “how proud” they must be, while Camilla had observed that they “looked like twins”.

Gareth Jones, 66, one of the children saved by Mr Andrew, grew visibly emotional as he met the king.

“I did cry with him, a bit of a tear,” he told reporters, describing it as a “lovely” day.

“Meeting the King and Queen – I am gobsmacked,” he added.

He showed Charles a photograph taken the day after the disaster and asked if he recognised anyone in it.

“He said, oh, is that you over there? I said, yes, I said, do you recognise anybody else?

“He said, that’s the late duke, I said, yes it is.”

Mr Jones said he would tell Charles more about the photograph during his visit to Aberfan next week.

Mr Jones discovered his connection with Noah while on a visit to his school to talk about the disaster, when the 10-year-old shared a photograph of his great-grandfather.

Ms Bray said: “Gareth was telling a story about how the caretaker pulled him through the window, and if it wasn’t for the caretaker, he wouldn’t be here.

“He said, all he remembers is him saying, ‘run boy, run’ just before slurry came down.”

She said discovering the connection – that Noah’s great-grandfather was the one who saved his life – was “amazing”.

“It’s really nice because it kept us in contact,” she added.

“He’s a lovely gentleman.

“It’s a very proud moment, we’ve learned lots from Gareth now about their great-grandfather.

“It was just such a crazy coincidence.”

In his speech to the Senedd, Charles said: “I am enormously touched that people from the Aberfan community are with us today.

“There could be no finer witnesses to the strength of the Welsh, and the human, spirit.”