Bush's message on St David's Day

St David's Day is being marked across the nation

Royalty and the US ambassador to the UK are among those contributing to the St David's Day celebrations.

The Queen visited Royal Welsh Regiment troops where she presented leeks while Prince Charles is marking the occasion by visiting the Welsh Guards in Bosnia.

The Guards will return home shortly with the announcement of the withdrawal of 600 troops from Bosnia.

Meanwhile, ambassador Robert H Tuttle delivered a greeting from President Bush to assembly members.

He referred to the contribution made to America by those with Welsh ancestry - Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and nine other U.S. Presidents. J.P. Morgan.

HAVE YOUR SAY I will be preparing Welsh cakes...and my ringtone is the Welsh national anthem... Trouble is, I have to stand up everytime it rings D Avery, Bushey Read your comments

"We continue to learn from prominent Welsh economists like Sir Clive Granger, a Noble Prize winner in 2003, who shapes our future leaders at the University of California," he added.

"Welsh-Americans have also added to the richness of America's cultural fabric, whether in a literal sense with Laura Ashley's home designs, or in a more philosophical way as through the writing of Jack London, the humour of Terry Jones, the acting of Sir Anthony Hopkins, or the singing of Sir Tom Jones.

"Today, the people of the United States and Wales stand together promoting liberty and equality around the world, but never forgetting the admonition of St. David himself to "do the little things". After all, greatness is often best reflected in the smallest of kindnesses."

Meanwhile, at London Paddington train station, the announcer gave out details of all Great Western trains bound for south Wales in both Welsh and English on Thursday morning.

Closer to home Tintern Abbey in Monmouthshire, which was free to visit all day, was lit red and green on Wednesday night to mark the event and history was repeated with a steam train journey from Swansea to London.

A St David's Day Express will recreate an historic journey

Jo Burkinshaw, who arranged the nostalgic trip with her brother Andy Staite, said passengers booked to dine onboard would be tucking into leek and potato soup and Welsh lamb.

Four Queens Dragoon Guards and a Welsh Guard toured five hospitals giving out daffodils and red dragons to patients and a teddy to the first baby born at the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff.

Tony Curtis MBE, organiser of the annual event, said: "They [the dragoon guards] have been on the frontline in Iraq.

"Now they have come home to Wales and are going around the hospitals to spread some joy. It shows a lot of compassion."

Meanwhile, BBC Radio 1 presenters Bethan Elfyn and Huw Stephens were giving new bands from Wrexham the chance to perform on the station during a live broadcast from the town.