Prince of Wales

While many different Welsh rulers claimed the title of 'King of Wales' and some ruled a majority of the country, the modern-day territory was only fully united between 1055 and 1063, under the direct rule of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn,[4][5] who was referred to as 'King of Wales' or Rex Walensium by John of Worcester.[6]

The native use of the title 'Prince of Wales' appeared more frequently by the eleventh century as a modernised form of the old 'King of the Britons', a title used to describe the leader of the Celtic Britons, ancestors of the Welsh.[7] The princes of the medieval period hailed largely from west Wales, mainly Gwynedd. They had significant power which allowed them to claim authority beyond the borders of their kingdoms.[8]

Monument to Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in Cilmeri where he was killed in 1282

Following the uniting of Wales under the rule of the Llywelyn princes, Edward I of England led 15,000 men to capture Wales. Resistance was led by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd who was killed by English soldiers in an ambush trick at the Battle of Orewin Bridge.[9][10] His head was paraded through London and placed on a Tower of London spike with a mocking crown of laurel leaves.[11]

Llywelyn's brother, Dafydd ap Gruffydd, took over leadership of Welsh fighters, but was captured in 1283. He was dragged through the streets of Shrewsbury by a horse, hanged, revived and disemboweled by English officials. His bowels were thrown into a fire as he watched. Finally, his head was cut off and placed on a Tower of London spike next to his brother Llywelyn, and his body cut into quarters.[12]

Following the deaths of Llywelyn and Dafydd, King Edward introduced the royal ordinance of the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284. The statute was a constitutional change causing Wales to lose its de facto independence and formed the Principality of Wales within the Realm of England.[13][14][15] It also introduced English common law to Wales for criminal cases, while civil cases were still dealt with under the Welsh laws of Hywel Dda.[16][14]

Statue of Owain Glyndŵr in Corwen

Y Ddraig Aur ('The Golden Dragon'), a flag carried by Owain Glyndŵr

With the assassination of Owain Lawgoch, the senior line of the House of Aberffraw became extinct.[17] As a result, the claim of the title "Prince of Wales" fell to the other royal dynasties of Wales, namely Deheubarth and Powys. The leading heir in this respect was Owain Glyndŵr who was descended from both dynasties.[18][19]

Glyndŵr was announced as Prince of Wales in Glyndyfrdwy on 16 September 1400, and with his armies, he proceeded to attack English towns in north-east Wales. Henry IV led several attempted invasions but with limited success. By 1404 no less than four English military expeditions into Wales had been repelled and Owain solidified his control of the nation.

In 1407, the much larger and better equipped English forces began to overwhelm the Welsh and eventually by 1409 they had reconquered most of the region. Glyndŵr fought on until he was cornered and under siege at Harlech Castle. He managed to escape and retreated to the Welsh wilderness with a band of loyal supporters, where he refused to surrender and continued the war with guerilla tactics. The last documented sighting of Owain Glyndŵr was in 1412 when he ambushed the king's men in Brecon and captured one of King Henry's leading supporters. His death was recorded by a former follower in the year 1415.[20]

Three native princes of Wales used the House of Gwynedd arms. The House of Gwynedd is divided between the earlier House of Cunedda, which lasted from c. 420–825, and the later House of Aberffraw, beginning in 844. The senior line of the House of Aberffraw, descended from Llywelyn the Great in patrilineal succession, became extinct on the death of Owain Lawgoch in 1378.[21]

Arms used by Owain Lawgoch and Owain Glyndŵr

Owain Glyndŵr adapted the House of Gwynedd arms by making the lions rampant, making clear his descent from the princes of Gwynedd and Llywelyn the Last, and his defence of Wales. It is also suggested that this design was influenced by the arms of Powys Fadog and the coat of Deheubarth. Glyndŵr's father was a hereditary prince of Powys Fadog and his mother was noblewoman of Deheubarth.[22]

The Glyndŵr arms were also used as a banner, carried into battle against the English. This banner is a symbol of Welsh defiance, resilience and protest,[22] and is associated with Welsh nationhood.[23][24]

After the conquest, "Prince of Wales" has been a substantive title traditionally (but not necessarily) granted by the English or British monarch to the son or grandson who is the heir apparent to the throne.

Since 1301, the title "Earl of Chester" has generally been granted to each heir apparent to the English throne, and from the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of 'prince of Wales'. Both titles are bestowed to each individual by the sovereign and are not automatically acquired.[32]

The prince of Wales usually has other titles and honours, if the eldest son of the monarch; typically this means being duke of Cornwall, which, unlike being prince of Wales, inherently includes lands and constitutional and operational responsibilities. The duchy of Cornwall was created in 1337 by Edward III for his son and heir, Edward of Woodstock (also known as 'The Black Prince'). A charter was also created which ruled that the eldest son of the king would be the duke of Cornwall.[33]

No formal public role or responsibility has been legislated by Parliament or otherwise delegated to the prince of Wales by law or custom. In that role, Charles often assisted Elizabeth II in the performance of her duties. He represented her when welcoming dignitaries to London and during state visits. He also represented the Queen and the United Kingdom overseas at state and ceremonial occasions such as funerals.[34] The prince of Wales has also been granted the authority to issue royal warrants.[35]

As heir apparent to the sovereign, the prince of Wales bears the royal arms differenced by a white label of three points. To represent Wales he bears the coat of arms of the Principality of Wales, crowned with the heir apparent's crown, on an inescutcheon-en-surtout. This was first used by the future Edward VIII in 1910, and followed by the most recent prince of Wales, now King Charles III.[36]

The heraldic badge of the three feathers is the badge of the duke of Cornwall, or heir apparent to the British throne.[37] The ostrich feathers heraldic motif is generally traced back to Edward of Woodstock ('The Black Prince"). He bore (as an alternative to his differenced royal arms) a shield of Sable, three ostrich feathers argent, described as his "shield for peace", probably meaning the shield he used for jousting. These arms appear several times on his chest tomb in Canterbury Cathedral, alternating with his paternal royal arms (the royal arms of King Edward III differenced by a label of three points argent).[38] The Black Prince also used heraldic badges of one or more ostrich feathers in various other contexts.[39]

Welsh people opposing to the investiture of Prince Charles at Caernarfon Castle

While Prince Charles's 1969 investiture was "largely welcomed" in Wales,[40] and it was watched by 19 million in the UK and another 500 million around the world, protests described as an anti-investiture movement, also took place in the days leading up to the ceremony.[41][42] Multiple Welsh organisations and individuals were against the event, including Dafydd Iwan,[43] Edward Millward,[44] Cofia 1282 ('Remember 1282'),[45] and the Welsh Language Society.[46] On the day of the investiture, a few protesters were arrested.[47]

Since then, further prominent organisations and figures in Wales have called for an end to the title including Plaid Cymru (which has since changed its stance),[48][49] Republic,[50] Michael Sheen,[51] and Dafydd Elis-Thomas.[52] Following Charles III's accession to the throne in September 2022, a petition was launched calling for the abolition of the title "Prince of Wales", which had received over 35,000 signatures.[53] Mark Drakeford,[54] Adam Price,[55] Jane Dodds,[56] and YesCymru[57] have all acknowledged a potential for a debate or have suggested potential for Welsh decision. On the 6th October, Gwynedd Council, the local authority where Charles was invested, voted to declare opposition to the title of "Prince of Wales" and against holding another investiture in Wales.[58]

A BBC Wales poll in 1999 found that 73% of Welsh speakers wanted the position of Prince of Wales to continue.[59]

A BBC poll in 2009, marking the 40th anniversary of the investiture, indicated that 38% of the Welsh population was in favour of a similar public ceremony for Prince William after Prince Charles became king.[60]

An ITV poll in 2018 found 57% of Welsh people in support of the title passing on when the then prince became king, with 27% opposed. Support for a similar investiture was lower, with 31% supporting, 27% opposed and 18% wanting a different kind of investiture.[61]