PRESS RELEASE : King and The Queen Consort celebrate Wrexham’s new city status [December 2022]
The press release issued by Buckingham Palace on 9 December 2022.
Wrexham AFC
Their Majesties started the day at Wrexham Association Football Club (AFC), where they met the club owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, alongside players, to learn about the redevelopment of the club.
During the visit, The King and The Queen Consort learn about the redevelopment of the club, which is the third oldest professional team in the world.
The club is now owned by Hollywood actors, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who are aiming to grow the team the team and return it to the English Football League in front of increased attendances, and in an improved stadium, while making a positive difference to the wider community in Wrexham.
St Giles’ Church
Their Majesties then headed to St Giles’ Church for a celebration to mark Wrexham becoming a city, which it received as part of The late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.
The King formally marked the conferral of city status and made a short speech.
There was then the opportunity to view the Church’s treasures including the First Edition King James Bible and a rare early 14th century chalice which is still in use before meeting Church and ecumenical representatives and local community groups.
Erdigg
At National Trust site Erdigg, The King, joined by the First Minister of Wales, planted an oak sapling, grown from the ancient Pontfadog Oak.
The Pontfadog Oak fell during a storm in 2013, and the Crown Estate subsequently manged to propagate the original tree.
His Majesty and The First Minister had previously viewed the sapling during a visit to the National Botanic Gardens in July 2022, which had been grown to mark Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, and has now been planted in her memory.
