1 January – Welsh people honoured by The Queen in the 2010 New Year Honours List include Menna Richards, Director of BBC Cymru Wales (OBE) and banker Dyfrig John (CBE).[1]
6 January – School closures and icy road conditions result from heavy snow in most areas of Wales.[2]
11 January – The HM Land Registry office in Swansea (High Street) closes as a result of the Land Registration (Proper Office) Order 2009. The Wales Office of the Land Registry, situated in Llansamlet, Swansea, remains open.[4]
12 January – Further heavy snow hits south and west Wales, as local authorities begin to run out of grit to treat roads.[5]
12 February – Welsh Secretary Peter Hain and Assembly Environment Minister Jane Davidson announce plans to make the M4 in Wales a "hydrogen highway", with alternative energy refuelling points.[6]
5 February – Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson is recommended by the House of Lords Appointments Commission as one of four new non-party-political peers.[7]
Baroness Grey-Thompson
14 February – Welsh rugby international Andy Powell is arrested near Junction 33 on the M4 motorway at 0600 GMT 14 February 2010, in possession of a stolen golf buggy.[8]
1 March – A BBC poll suggests that support has risen for full law-making powers for the Welsh Assembly, up to 56%, with 35% against, although Nick Bourne the leader of the Welsh Conservative Party (who supported a yes vote) is sceptical of the poll results.[10]
17 March – Government figures show that the unemployment rate in Wales, at 9.2% is higher than any other home country and higher than all but two other regions of the UK.[12]
24 June – Barry-born Julia Gillard becomes Australia's first female prime minister.
28 June – The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, unveils a new memorial on the site of Six Bells Colliery. The sculpture, Guardian (of the Valleys) by Sebastien Boyesen, commemorates the pit disaster of 1960 and is a tribute to those who work in dangerous industries.[20]
The Guardian of the Valleys
July–December
1 July – Wales's four archaeological trusts launch an online searchable website, known as Archwilio, at the Treftadaeth Conference in Swansea. Alun Ffred Jones AM, Minister for Heritage, observes: "Wales is the first country in Britain that has made all its archaeological records available online" and "Archwilio will be a tremendous asset not only for the people of Wales but also for those further afield who have an interest in the rich archaeology and cultural heritage of our country".[21]
23 August – The remains of Anglesey-born MI6 worker Gareth Williams are discovered locked in a sports bag[23] at his Pimlico flat.[24]
29 August – Air-sea rescue services begin a frantic search for missing kayaker Elizabeth Ashbee, who became separated from four colleagues in rough waters and bad weather at Ynys Feurig near Rhosneigr, Anglesey. Her body is found in Caernarfon Bay two days later.[25]
5 September – Holly Stuckey, a pupil at Ysgol Maesteg School, is taken to hospital suffering from an allergic reaction, but dies shortly afterwards. Her parents later claim she was severely bullied at the school.[26]
13 September – Archaeologists working at Caerleon announce the discovery of a suit of Roman armour.[27]
4 November – The accident report on the Porthcawl mid-air collision over Kenfig of March 2009 is released.[28] The AAIB makes no safety recommendations, referring instead to the recommendations made in January's Ministry of Defence inquiry report.
16 November – Buckingham Palace confirms that Prince William of Wales will marry Catherine Middleton in 2011. Her title following the marriage would be dependent on whether an additional title were conferred on the prince.
27 December – The Welsh National steeplechase, scheduled to be held at Chepstow, is postponed from its traditional spot because of adverse weather conditions.
