For a medieval or renaissance English Prince of Wales, the investiture itself was less of a public milestone than the extended residence on the Welsh border that followed as an apprenticeship before succeeding to the throne. Fast-forward to the 20th century and King George VI decided against the title of Princess of Wales for the future Queen Elizabeth II because it was associated with the wife of a Prince of Wales, rather than an heiress presumptive in her own right.
The Stuart, Hanover and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha princes of Wales paid little attention to Wales: there were eight princes of Wales who never even visited the principality as prince or subsequently as king. The regalia associated with the position, however, received some attention in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Georgian coronet was deemed too delicate for use in the 20th-century investitures.
The future prime minister David Lloyd George, then chancellor of Exchequer and constable of Caernarfon Castle, favoured a ceremony at the castle that would increase his own political capital and address the potential forWelsh nationalism — an issue that would emerge again at the investiture of Prince Charles.
There had been a short-lived Welsh nationalist organisation in the s and s, Cymru Fydd Young Wales , which was modelled after the Irish home rule movement. The early 20th century had also seen increased interest in the history of Wales with the establishment of the National Library of Wales and the National Museum of Wales in The ceremony designed to combat these concerns seemed medieval in its antecedents, but in fact it included newly-created regalia, costumes, and a new tradition of the prince addressing the assembled crowds in Welsh.
The televised coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in had been well received throughout the Commonwealth and had increased the expectation that major royal events would now be broadcast for television audiences. As in , fresh traditions were created for the ceremony including the creation of a new coronet Edward VIII had taken his coronet with him to France after he abdicated in to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson and a simplified costume considered to be more in keeping with the times.
The royal family was, at this time, also facing additional pressures as a result of being in the public eye. The programme was a response to concerns that the royal family was increasingly remote from the rapid social and cultural change of the s. As such, the investiture of the Prince of Wales was viewed by people around the world who had just had their first glimpse of the royal family behind palace doors and were interested to see the Queen and Prince Charles interact as mother and son, as well as monarch and heir.
Dr Johnes does not view the prince as a Welsh figure: "There have been moments, notably in learning some Welsh before his investiture, when Charles has tried to cultivate his position within Wales, but his relationship with the nation has remained rather symbolic. But Prof Stead said the prince offered an opportunity for Wales: "His disastrous and totally misconceived first marriage [to Diana] brought his mother's reign to its lowest ebb. Prince Charles begins Wales summer tour. Charles visits as harpist debuts.
Prince Charles opens university campus. Image source, Getty Images. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall outside Llwynywermod in Image source, PA. Prince Charles was invested at Caernarfon Castle aged Image source, Getty. Prince Charles meets with dignitaries on a visit to Myddfai, near Llandovery, in July Prince Charles officially opened the new headquarters of a telephone company in Wrexham in July.
Image source, Charles and Patricia Lester. Prof Stead said Prince Charles' marriage to the Duchess of Cornwall had made him a more 'useful' prince. History of the Prince of Wales title.
In Edward of Caernarfon, the future Edward II, was invested as Prince of Wales - this was the first time the eldest son of the King of England had been bestowed the title. Since then, only one native Welshman, Owain Glyndwr has had a claim to the title, and was proclaimed as such in His armed revolt was defeated in and marked the end of native princes for good.
Wonder had been replaced by irritation and followed by contempt. Buckingham Palace, together with the then-Labour government, decided that Prince Charles needed to acquaint himself with Wales. He was pulled out of his ivory tower he was studying at Cambridge University for a term to attend Aberystwyth University and be tutored in all things Welsh, including the language. His mentor was Edward Millward , an eminent academic who also happened to be a Welsh nationalist active in the Plaid Cymru party the political party of Wales which advocates home rule.
It was a bold move, and in many ways Charles was being thrown to the lions. When the Prince arrived in Wales the opposition was obvious. He gave Welsh speeches at the university, and the investiture was followed by a week-long tour of Wales. Although the investiture ceremony may appear to be steeped in history and tradition, it had been refashioned for Prince Charles with television coverage in mind.
In , it was thought that a show of royal pomp and ritual would quell the rumblings of Welsh nationalism. This was to be a spectacle that would be broadcast around the world. On the eve of the spectacle, two men were killed placing a bomb outside government offices in the Welsh town of Abergele, but on the day of the ceremony, everything went according to plan. Four thousand people watched from the grounds of Caernarfon Castle, along with thousands more outside the ancient walls and millions tuning in on television.
Charles remembers the day as a tremendously important one. Since then, Prince Charles has taken the title very seriously.
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