On Friday, July 19, Queen Nompumelelo Zulu and Princess Zama Zulu visited Llanfaes Primary School during their recent visit to Mid Wales.
The Queen and Princess joined in with the school’s assembly where children and the school choir sang traditional Welsh songs such as Sosban Fach and Calon Lân.
Princess Zama Zulu spoke to the schoolchildren about her background and answered multiple questions from the pupils about what it’s like to be a princess.
Queen Nompumelelo thanked everyone for their warm welcome. This was the Queen’s second visit to Llanfaes Primary School. Speaking in the school’s assembly, she said: “Thank you for welcoming me, this is my second time visiting and I said I have to come back because of how nicely I was treated.
“I also want to thank you for the donations you sent out to our schoolchildren out in South Africa - all the books and Christmas decorations were fantastic. I look forward to making more of this relationship between the schools. Thank you very much.”
Queen Nompumelelo also encouraged the pupils to sing ‘This Little Light of Mine’ along with her before her and Princess Zama Zulu handed out weekly awards and stickers to the pupils.
They also visited the Zulu concert: The Zulu Welsh: A Symphony of Voices at Theatr Brycheiniog on Friday evening, where Busi Mhlanga and her Zulu Ndebele singers joined forces with Aberhonddu and District Male Voice Choir.
The Queen and Princess’ visit to Mid Wales was centred around The Goodwill Zulu Festival, celebrating the Welsh and KwaZulu Natal shared heritage. The festival lasted from Thursday, July 18, to Saturday, July 20. It marked 145 years since the Anglo-Zulu War and also 60 years since the release of the film, Zulu.
On the Thursday, the Zulu Royal Chorale performed songs and dance. The life of his majesty King Zwelthini, who died in 2021, was praised.
The final day of the festival (Saturday, July 20) was a sports and heritage day and saw a re-enactment of the Battle of Isandlwana. Tug of war contests, javelin throwing and a climbing wall were enjoyed by all at Canal Road Play Park in Brecon.