Wales' newly elected first minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, found himself sleeping at a Premier Inn on the night of his party's historic election victory—after forgetting his flat keys.
Ap Iorwerth traveled from an election count in north Wales to Cardiff last Friday, only to realize he had left his keys at his main home on Anglesey, roughly 200 miles away. Unable to access his Cardiff flat late at night, he checked into the budget hotel chain.
The next morning, his father drove the keys down, leading to an impromptu father-son celebration on the steps of the Senedd as supporters gathered to welcome the new government.
Speaking after ap Iorwerth was formally elected to lead the Welsh government on Tuesday, his father, Edward Morus Jones, told ITV he felt "extremely proud and very glad to be alive" to witness the milestone. "I can't hide the fact that I'm elated," he said. "It's a sort of cloud that we've been in since Friday."
Plaid Cymru won 43 seats in the expanded 96-member Senedd, ending Labour's century-long dominance in Wales. Reform UK came second with 34 seats, pushing Labour into third with just nine.
Unlike the UK prime minister or Scotland's first minister, Wales' first minister has no official residence. The lack of such a residence was previously highlighted after protests outside former Labour leader Mark Drakeford's Cardiff home.
Premier Inn and Plaid Cymru have been contacted for comment.