Prince Charles released a video message this afternoon as he formally opened the Dragon’s Heart Hospital at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. In the broadcast filmed from his Birkhall home in Scotland, the Prince of Wales paid tribute to all those involved who helped to build the hospital, which has the capacity to treat up to 2,000 COVID-19 patients.

In the footage, Charles gave audiences a glimpse of a framed photo positioned in front on his bookshelves of himself with Alexandra Knatchbull from her wedding day in 2016.

Ms Knatchbull is the great granddaughter of Lord Louis Mountbatton who was a close friend to Charles.

The heir-to-the-throne is seen as a father figure to Ms Knatchbull and stepped to give her away when he father Lord Norton Brabourne fell ill.

Lord Norton Brabourne has close ties with several members of the immediate Royal Family and is the godson of the Duke of Edinburgh and one of the Duke of Cambridge’s godfathers.

Ms Knatchbull, who is also the goddaughter of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, married Thomas Hooper at Romsey Abbey in Hampshire.

In the photo Charles is pictured wearing a three-piece-suit and is holding the hand of the stunning bride.

The lavish ceremony was also attended by Her Majesty The Queen, Prince Philip and the Princess Royal.

This would not turn out to be the first time Charles had walked a bride down the wedding isle and did the same two years later with Meghan Markle.

The Prince of Wales gave Meghan away when her father Thomas Markle Snr did not attend the ceremony.

Meghan and Harry got married at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on May 19, 2018.

In the video message, Charles who had recently recovered from COVID-19, hailed the hospital in the Welsh capital as a “huge source of pride”.

He said: “That this amazing undertaking should have been completed in such a short time is, rightly, a huge source of pride.

“I simply want to add my voice to the tributes that have been paid to all those involved, from so many different walks of life, who have made this possible.

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“The Welsh Government, the National Health Service trust, the planners, builders and technicians, the armed forces and, of course, the medical staff and volunteers who will be taking forward this hospita vital work.

“In a facility named, so evocatively and so appropriately, Calon Y Ddraig, what can I say except ‘diolch o galon’, and express the warmest possible thanks for what you have done, and all that you will do in this hospital, and all those other field hospitals, across Wales, where buildings have been transformed as part of the immense effort to combat the dreadful threat we face.”

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