People in Aberfan, south Wales, are remembering the disaster 60 years ago when a coal waste tip collapsed on a school and homes
On 21 October 1966, 116 children and 28 adults were killed when the colliery spoil tip collapsed and engulfed Pantglas Junior School and surrounding houses
Emergency services, miners and people who rushed to the village began an around-the-clock battle to dig out those trapped by the debris
Mair Morgan, the last surviving teacher at the school, still remembers having to identify the children who died
King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales are joining survivors, bereaved parents and other members of the community at a memorial garden that stands on the site of the school
A prayer and moment of silence was held at 09:15 to mark the moment the coal spoil struck the village
Warning: This live page will contain upsetting details that some may find distressing
The King and Queen have arrived in Aberfan by helicopter to pay their respects to the 116 children and 28 adults that were killed 60 years ago today.
The Prince of Wales has travelled separately in a car to join them.
They are expected to meet bereaved families and lay wreaths at the memorial garden.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, PA MediaFlowers that Aberfan victims would have seen in their gardens were chosen for wreaths to be laid at the memorial garden.
Foliage native to the hillsides was also selected, such as ferns, oak, heather.
First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth laid a wreath designed by a teacher with the children and community in mind.
The royals are also set to lay wreaths.
Charles, Queen Camilla and heir to the throne Prince William will lay wreaths at the memorial garden.
It is a rare outing together for the three senior royals who often attend events separately, showing the importance attached to the disaster by the family.
Jordan Davies
BBC News, reporting from Aberfan
Image source, Athena Picture AgencyCrowds are gathering on the street where the school used to stand ahead of the royal visit, with the King and Queen expected to arrive shortly.
About 300 people are lining the road with more arriving all the time.
It is directly opposite the memorial garden on the site of the old Pantglas junior school.
Wendy Livania, who taught in Ynysowen school, has been joined by Helen Davies as they wait for the King, Queen and Prince of Wales to arrive in the village.
Helen, who lives opposite the memorial, says she remembers her school choir performing for the then Prince Charles and the late Queen Elizabeth.
She has family members who lost siblings and were forced to leave their homes following the disaster.
Her grandmother had a telegram from the Red Cross “thanking her for all her help” during the tragedy.“Having lived here all my life you can’t believe how it brings the community together," says Helen
Denise Morgan was 11 and remembers her dad coming home with sister Annette's purse and a piece of her dress.
He had identified her at the chapel and when she asked him what her sister looked like, he said: "As if she was sleeping."
There was 18 months between them and Denise was very close to her sister, who was nine, and they slept in the same bed.
"From then on, not having her by the side of me was just an enormous loss," she said.
"You're only 11 and trying to understand what has happened."
Image source, Family photo/ BBC
Huw Thomas
BBC News, reporting from Aberfan
A little more about events at the cemetery this morning.
A new choir song, Prayer for Aberfan, was performed for the first time by the Ynysowen Male Voice Choir, which includes men who lost children and relatives in the disaster.
Written by the choir's musical director, it's dedicated to the children who died, as it calls on God to "hold them in your loving arms".
Members of the choir are now arriving at Aberfan community centre, where they will perform for the King and Queen later this morning.
BBC Wales reporter Jordan Davies is in Aberfan today and says people are waiting in anticipation for King Charles and Queen Camilla to arrive.
The late Queen Elizabeth waited eight days before visiting Aberfan to comfort the community.
"We told her to stay away until the preliminary shock had worn off," said her former private secretary, the late Lord Charteris.
He added this was the biggest regret of her reign, and he believed he had given her poor advice.
When the Queen did eventually visit, she was described as being deeply moved, and greeted with love from residents who felt she had helped them in their darkest hour.
Her bond with the village endured throughout her reign and she visited a further three times.
Disaster survivor Jeff Edwards later said: "Aberfan is a small mining community, just 3,000 to 4,000 people... I think there's no place in the UK that can say it's had that close relationship with her in that way."
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Queen with (L-R) Marjorie Collins, Elaine Morgan and Jean Gough, who all lost children in the Aberfan disaster
People around the country are remembering the victims of Aberfan, including at St Mary's Church in Conwy, north Wales.
The bells rang 144 times during this morning's minute's silence - for the 116 children and 28 adults who died.
Jeanette Keane was at the nearby grammar school when word started to spread something had happened at the junior school and children had died.
She went running home but her parents weren't there, with her dad digging, looking for survivors.
"He found my sister Edwina and she was alive but he couldn't get her out because the roof would have fallen in," she said.
"My father laid by her side, held her hand and she suffocated."
Image source, family photo/BBCAberfan is a former mining village just like countless others across the south Wales coalfield area.
It is in the county of Merthyr Tydfil, and has towns such as Mountain Ash in Rhondda Cynon Taf on one side.
On the other is Caerphilly county, which includes Rhymney and other former mining areas.
BBC international editor Jeremy Bowen has been talking about his dad who was one of the first journalists to arrive in Aberfan following the disaster.
Gareth Bowen, who was from nearby Merthyr Tydfil, captured the shock and grief that had engulfed the community.
"It was very personal for him. And of course for me, having grown up in south Wales in that particular era, it was something that was always present," Jeremy told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.
"It was something that connected with the history and the culture of the place, clearly in a totally undesirable manner.
"But it meant that that gave it extra resonance."
Image source, Getty ImagesPantglas Junior School was Aberfan's local school when the disaster struck, claiming the lives of 116 children and 28 adults.
The building was destroyed and not rebuilt.
The Aberfan memorial garden was officially opened by the late Queen Elizabeth II in March 1973.
In 2019, the gardens were reopened after a £500,000 renovation.
The chairman of the Aberfan Memorial Charity David Davies told a crowd of 200 people at the time: "The world has not forgotten Aberfan.
"The memorial garden will continue to be a place to visit, a tranquil place to pause and reflect."
Mair Morgan was a 25-year-old teacher who had worked at Pantglas Junior School for a year when the disaster happened.
She recalls it as a misty morning with drizzly rain, as she rang the bell to start school at 08:50.
After hearing a "terrible noise", she got her pupils outside before the impact of the slurry, and remembers seeing the caretaker rushing to help other children.
Bethania Chapel was eventually opened as a place of rest for the victims of the disaster, but before that, the teachers were asked to identify the children.
"I found that very hard," said Mair.
"I remember one little girl, I can see her face now. She had beautiful black curly hair."
Image source, Getty Images/ BBCHuw Thomas
BBC News, reporting from Aberfan
Image source, Getty ImagesAt the cemetery where victims are buried, events were private, away from the media and other visitors to Aberfan.
Survivors were joined by family members of those who died to mark the moment the disaster happened exactly 60 years ago.
A programme of events, shared with me, explained how wreaths were laid by representatives from the emergency services that responded that day.
There were also dignitaries at the cemetery, including Wales' first minister, members of parliament and local government.
Chaplain to the mayor of Merthyr Tydfil Rev David Powell led the prayers while the Bishop of Llandaff closed proceedings with a benediction.
The Ynysowen Male Voice Choir, formed to help men in Aberfan to cope in the years after the disaster, also performed for those who gathered in the misty rain.
Pupils at Ynysowen Community Primary School gathered to pay their respects.
They share a special connection with the 144 children and adults who lost their lives.
The school was built in the village to carry on the legacy of Pantglas Junior School which was destroyed in the Aberfan disaster.
Prince William will unveil an Aberfan Memorial Tree at the school later today.
Jordan Davies
BBC News, reporting from Aberfan
A line of people, some wearing black ties, gathered on Moy Road near where Pantglas Junior School once stood.
Some were visibly upset on what is an emotional day for this village and community.
People were seen consoling their family members as they shielded from the rain.
