Lifestyle · Entertainment

Princess of Wales Sends Message in Welsh to Owain Wyn Evans

The Princess of Wales cheered on BBC Radio 2 presenter Owain Wyn Evans in Welsh on the last day of his four-nation Children In Need cycle ride. He finished in Cardiff on November 13, 2026, after raising £3,853,530.

By Elena Vance

November 15, 20262 min read

Princess of Wales Sends Message in Welsh to Owain Wyn Evans

The Princess of Wales sent a message of support in Welsh to BBC Radio 2 presenter Owain Wyn Evans on Friday, November 13, 2026, the final day of his four-nation cycling challenge for Children In Need. The Welsh broadcaster called her pronunciation "perfect".

Evans, 42, spent five days riding through Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales. He finished in Cardiff.

A royal voice on Radio 2

Her message played on BBC Radio 2 on Friday morning. Translated into English, it said: "Hi Owain, it's Catherine, you're doing so well. Keep going! Wishing you all the very best!"

Evans reacted live on air. "Oh my goodness, wow," he said. He told presenter Sara Cox: "That's just incredible. It's amazing, Sara. Thank you, your highness."

More messages, one named bike

Queen drummer Roger Taylor also sent good wishes earlier in the show. "As a fellow drummer, I know you'll know this: the final song is the one that stays with everyone," he said. He added: "Don't Stop Me Now, remember that. Look out for a Queen festive treat on Monday."

Evans answered: "Oh my gosh and he... he said my name, do you know what I mean? Roger Taylor!"

His bike was called Shania Chain, a name chosen from suggestions by Radio 2 listeners. Others included Áine Bike, Britney Gears and Kylie Spinogue. Shania Twain was so pleased with the choice that she sent a good-luck message before the start in Glasgow, where she told him: "Let's Go, Owain!"

Finish line in Cardiff

By Friday morning the ride had raised £2.9 million. Evans crossed the line in Cardiff after 11am, with the total at £3,853,530. A crowd cheered him in, and his husband, Arran Rees, met him.

"I can't believe that I'm here with this welcome and the sun's out!" he said. He thanked the crowd "from me and Shania".

He told fellow Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay that the challenge was brutal. "You train so hard, me and Shania Twain going around the streets, but the reality of it, it's so hard," he said.

Asked how he felt, he said the ride was for "an amazing cause, Children In Need". He added that many children "need our help and who will be helped by all the donations".

Evans began his broadcasting career in Welsh-language television, presenting the children's news programme Ffeil. He later presented the weather on BBC Wales Today and began hosting Radio 2's Early Breakfast Show in 2023.

The three-hour BBC Children In Need show airs live from Salford on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7pm on Friday. Cox, Alex Jones, Rylan Clark, Mel Giedroyc and Tyler West are the hosts.