The Foreign Secretary will meet Mr Szijjártó to discuss the close relationship between the UK and Hungary and shared foreign policy challenge.

On arrival, the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:

The UK and Hungary are close allies and friends. As we leave the EU, we will increase our trade, work even more closely together on European security, and increase links between our two peoples.

Foreign Minister Szijjártó and I will discuss how we can strengthen our existing friendship as we leave the European Union, and the many shared interests in our strong and modern alliance.

All the latest news is available on the Foreign Office page of the gov.uk website at www.gov.uk/fco.

Theresa May and Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns welcomed people from all parts of the UK including figures from Welsh business, politics, sport, charities and the media.

Guests included Welsh Red Arrows Pilot Flight Lieutenant Mike Bowden; Welsh TV personality Matt Johnson; former Welsh rugby international Richard Parks; Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson; and London marathon runner Matthew Rees, who was made famous last year when he helped a struggling runner get across the finish line.

A number of Welsh companies attended to showcase their produce, including Penderyn Distillery, who produce award-winning single malt whiskies and spirits in Brecon Beacons, South Wales; Cwm Farm Charcuterie, who were awarded first place at the Great British Farm Produce Awards and a gold star from the Great Taste Awards for their laverbread sausage; and Ridiculously Rich By Alana – a company created by winner of BBC One’s The Apprentice, Alana, who started to sell her luxury chocolate to friends and family before attracting the interest of shops in Aberystwyth.

The Culinary Association of Wales also served up a selection of Welsh canapés, and a Welsh choir from Côr y Boro and harpist Rhys Wardhaugh played traditional Welsh tunes.

Prime Minister Theresa May said:

It is always a privilege to celebrate Wales’ national day alongside Welsh people from every walk of life and every part of the country.

Many of the companies who were represented here today are exporting across Europe and around the globe – showing just how much Wales has to offer at home and to the world.

From sport, business, to entertainment and music, the Welsh make their indelible mark in every possible sphere of society. Thank you to everyone who came here today, despite the bad weather, to celebrate the very best of Welsh life and for Wales making the UK the country it is. The nations of the UK each have their own unique characters, cultures and needs – but when we come together as one, we are all the better for it.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

Today was an extremely important day for the whole of Wales. Despite the snow, it was wonderful to see so many people from all walks of Welsh life coming together to celebrate, underline and show our respect to our Welsh language, history and culture.

I’d like to thank the Prime Minister for the special emphasis and respect she shows to all four nations of our precious Union, as well as all the guests who made it to Number 10 even with the adverse conditions today.

Alana Spencer, of Ridiculously Rich by Alana, said:

It was a real honour to come to Downing Street today, and the day was made even more special by the fact that it is to celebrate Welsh food on St David’s day. I feel proud to be a food producer based in Wales and it’s lovely to be recognised alongside other incredible food producers from Wales.

Stephen Davies, of Penderyn Distillery, said:

We were thrilled to showcase Penderyn Single Malt at Downing Street on St David’s Day, which is the anniversary of the launch of our Penderyn brand back in 2004. As we are currently targeting a range of new export markets, events like this help give focus to our business and brand in the eyes of our export partners.

Ruth Davies, of Cwm Farm Charcuterie, said:

It was an absolute honour and privilege to be here today and to meet the Prime Minister, and I met some wonderful people who tried our produce. To be given this opportunity as a small producer was just what we needed!

Good afternoon everyone and croeso i Stryd Downing.

It’s a pleasure to have you all here to celebrate Wales’ national day alongside Welsh people from every walk of life and every part of the country.

We have great figures from the worlds of business, culture and sport.

And I’d like to echo the comments made by Alun about the great effort so many of you made to get here today, despite the weather.

And I hope you’ve all had a chance to try out some of the wonderful Welsh produce on display.

Today is a great showcase for a great part of the United Kingdom, a part of the world that is no longer Europe’s best-kept secret.

Every year millions of people are seeing for themselves just how much Wales has to offer.

That includes myself and my husband, who are regular visitors to Snowdonia, we love to go walking there.

And while the world is coming to Wales, Wales is also reaching out to the world.

Many of the companies represented here tonight are exporting across Europe and around the globe.

But also in sport, the whole world saw the amazing medal-winning performance by Wrexham’s Laura Dais in the Winter Olympics.

And next month well over a hundred Welsh men and women will be heading to Australia for the Commonwealth Games.

They will include Anna Hursey, who is lighting up the world of table tennis despite being just 11 years old.

Anna and her teammates will be proud to be competing under the red dragon – just as I’m proud to see it flying over Downing Street today.

I’m proud because it is a reminder that Wales makes the UK the country it is.

And we wouldn’t be the same without it.

The nations of the UK each have their own unique characters, cultures and needs.

But when we come together as one, we are all the better for it.

As my colleague David Lidington said in Broughton earlier this week, when we are united at home we are stronger abroad.

That’s why I’m working with Alun to help Wales be all it can be, to help Welsh businesses and people reach their full potential.

And that does include abolishing the Severn Crossing Tolls, investing over £600 million in City Deals for Cardiff and Swansea and committing to a growth deal for the north.

This is a government that is working hard for everyone in every part of Wales, from Haverfordwest to Holyhead.

It’s an exciting time for Wales, there’s much to look forward to, many opportunities on the horizon.

So, tomorrow let’s get out there and make sure the world knows all about Wales and what it has to offer.

But tonight, let’s celebrate the very best of Welsh life – and of course the very best of Welsh food and drink!

Enjoy the rest of the reception, and Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus.

Upon arrival at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Minster of State Mark Field said:

Baroness Tina Stowell has been appointed by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as the new Chair of the Charity Commission, for three years from 26 February 2018.

Baroness Stowell will take over from William Shawcross in the role.

Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said:

Tina Stowell will be a brilliant chair of the Charity Commission and I am delighted she is taking up this role. It is an important time for the Commission, and the sector, and I know that she will work tirelessly to protect and promote the great work that charities do and ensure they uphold the highest standards of integrity. I would also like to thank William Shawcross for his hard work over the past six years.

Baroness Stowell said:

I am delighted to join the Charity Commission, and look forward to leading a strong board and a committed and expert staff through the challenges ahead. I will place the public interest at the heart of everything I do as Chair to build the public’s trust in charities and the Commission as their regulator. To that end it is vital that we have a constructive, business-like relationship with all our stakeholders and I look forward to listening to a wide range of voices in the days and weeks ahead.

Baroness Stowell of Beeston was Leader of the House of Lords and the Lord Privy Seal until July 2016.

Tina Stowell was made a peer in January 2011 and joined the Government in September the same year. As a junior minister she led the landmark Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act through the House of Lords in 2013. She was promoted to Leader of the House of Lords and the Lord Privy Seal in 2014 and re-appointed to the same Cabinet post after the 2015 General Election.

Before joining the House of Lords Tina Stowell’s career over the previous 25 years crisscrossed government, politics and the media. Until September 2010, she was the BBC’s Head of Corporate Affairs.

She was a civil servant for ten years, working at the Ministry of Defence in London, the British Embassy in Washington and 10 Downing Street from 1991 to 1996. She left the Civil Service at the age of 28 and was awarded the MBE in the 1996 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Notes to editors

• This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments
• The Chair of Charity Commission is appointed by the Secretary of State. Remuneration for this role is £62,500 for up to two and a half days per week. The term of appointment will last for three years
• In accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Baroness Tina Stowell has declared that she was leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords from 2014-2016; she has spoken on behalf of the Conservative Party and candidates during elections campaigns; and has canvassed on behalf of the Conservative during election campaigns. She has resigned the Conservative Whip in the House of Lords and become an independent, unaffiliated peer.