Controversy of the Prince of Wales title

There has been some opposition in Wales to the granting of the title "Prince of Wales", and investiture of the prince of Wales by the English, then British monarch.

Protest against the Investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales at the memorial to Llywelyn the Last, native Prince of Wales in Cilmeri, near Builth Wells in 1969.

The title is currently held by Prince William.

History

1969 investiture of Prince Charles
People at the investiture of Charles

Although the investiture of Charles in 1969 took place during a period of social change and a growing Welsh nationalist movement, it was largely welcomed by people in Wales.[1] The investiture was also attended by invitation, by 3,500 people who lived and worked in Wales.[2] In the UK, the press focused on the pomp and regalia, with some newspapers stating "Welsh go wild for Their Royal Prince" and "Proud Wales takes Prince to her heart."[3] It was also supported by the Welsh secretary of state at the time, George Thomas, although he remained a controversial figure in Wales.[4] Thomas later stated to Prime minister Harold Wilson that Charles' speech had "boosted Welsh nationalism."[3]

Protesters opposing the investiture of Prince Charles at Caernarfon Castle, 1969

The 1960s movement surrounding the investiture of Charles as Prince of Wales has historically been described as the "anti-investiture movement"[5]: 207 [6][7] and "anti-investiture sentiment".[8] The investiture occurred during a period of revival of the Welsh national consciousness with an outspoken section considering it as an English Prince being imposed upon Wales.[9]

Further information: Investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales § Opposition

Later developments

The successful Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers released a song "Charles Windsor" with lyrics describing the deposing of Charles.[3]

In 2018, over 30,000 people signed a petition against the renaming of Second Severn Crossing as the "Prince of Wales bridge".[10]

The naming of the cup for the winner of Wales v South Africa rugby matches as the "Prince William cup" caused considerable controversy in Wales. Many people called on the WRU to rename the trophy in honour of Welsh international rugby star Ray Gravell, who died on 31 October 2007.[11] During a tribute to Gravell at the inaugural match the stadium announcer asked the crowd to remember Ray as 'gwir dywysog Cymru', ("true prince of Wales").

William as Prince of Wales

During his first address, King Charles III said of his son William, "Today I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru. The country whose title I've been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life of duty."[12] According to Buckingham Palace, "The Prince and Princess [of Wales] look forward to celebrating Wales's proud history and traditions as well as a future that is full of promise".[13]

According to the First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford, William will be absolutely aware of the sensitivities that surround the title.[12] Conservative MP for Clwyd West, David Jones and English Conservative MP Michael Fabricant said that the matter was entirely up to the King and not the First Minister of Wales.[14][15] Conservative MS for South Wales East, Laura Anne Jones, has suggested that the new Prince of Wales will be an "extraordinary ambassador" that will be "above" politics.[16]

A petition calling for the end of the Prince of Wales title was started following its vacancy upon Charles III's accession.[17][18] As of May 2023, despite Prince William receiving the title, the petition has received almost 40,000 signatures.[19]

On 6 October 2022, Gwynedd Council, the local authority where Charles was invested, voted to declare opposition to the title and holding another investiture in Wales.[20] On 30 October, Senedd Llywydd Elin Jones said to WalesOnline that an investiture is not a constitutional requirement and that 21st century Wales does not need an investiture.[21]

William's continued presidency of the English football association has been questioned in media, particularly as Wales played England in the FIFA World Cup 2022 and will "remain a regular fixture cheering on England" despite receiving the honorary title of Prince of Wales.[22] In November, William was criticised for holding the Prince of Wales title whilst having affiliations with England football, particularly after he presented England jerseys to the squad in advance of the FIFA world cup in which both Wales and England would be playing. Those who criticised him included Welsh football followers and the Welsh actor Michael Sheen.[23] Following this controversy, Kensington Palace also released a statement saying an investiture is "not on the table" with William visiting Cardiff with plans to tell the people of Wales that there are no formal plans for an investiture ceremony, aware of the controversy of the 1969 event.[24]

Debate

Mark Drakeford,[25] Adam Price,[26] Jane Dodds,[27] Leanne Wood,[28] YesCymru[29] and Plaid Cymru have called for a national conversation on the title. The Welsh government responded saying that the matter had already been decided.[30] Laura McAllister, Welsh academic, former international footballer and senior sports administrator said that the title merits a proper debate due to its historical and political controversy.[31]

Welsh actor Michael Sheen has called for the end of Prince of Wales title,[32] which according to him is a "tradition that was started as a humiliation to our country".[33]

Lord Elis-Thomas said in 2022 that in a previous discussion with then-Prince Charles, he expressed his desire of never again having an investiture in Caernarfon Castle. According to Elis-Thomas, Charles laughed and said, "Do you think I want to put William through what I went through?".[34]

Opinion polls

Opinion polls on individuals in Wales, show more support for the title Prince of Wales to continue and for another investiture compared to opposition, although less support for another investiture compared to the title, and some polls showing no majority opinion.

A BBC Wales poll in 1999, showed 73% of Welsh speakers believing the title should continue after Charles.[35] A BBC poll in 2009, 40 years following the investiture, revealed 58% of Welsh people support the title "Prince of Wales" with 58% supporting a investiture of a new Prince of Wales when Charles becomes king. 26% opposed the title. However only 16% responded that Wales had benefited from having a prince.[36][37]

In July 2018, an ITV poll stated 57% of Welsh people in support the title passing to William, with 22% for abolition or vacating the title. Support for another investiture was lower, with 31% supporting a ceremony similar to the 1969 one, 18% supporting a ceremony different to 1969 and 27% opposing an investiture.[38]

A BBC Wales 2019 poll showed 50% supporting the continuation of the title and 22% opposing the continuation of the title. On the investiture, 41% supported a similar ceremony to 1969, 20% a different-style investiture ceremony, and 30% opposing any future investiture.[39][40] A 2021 poll by Beaufort Research for Western Mail showed 61% of respondents in Wales supported another investiture, including 60% of Welsh-speakers polled.[41]

A June 2022, ITV/YouGov poll showed 46% of adults in Wales wanted the Prince of Wales title to continue, 31% said it should be abolished, with 23% don't knows.[42] In September 2022, a YouGov poll showed 66% support for Prince William to be given the title compared to 22% opposed, with 19% supporting a 1969-style investiture, 30% a different style of investiture and 34% opposing any investiture of Prince William as Prince of Wales.[43]

See also

References
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  2. Davies, Christopher (2022-10-02). "Remembering the 1969 Prince of Wales investiture at Caernarfon Castle". North Wales Live. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  3. "When a young Charles was crowned Prince of Wales — and spoke in Welsh". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
  4. Shipton, Martin (2017-09-22). "George Thomas was a 'sanctiminous hypocrite' - Shipton". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  5. Ellis, John Stephen (2008). Investiture: Royal Ceremony and National Identity in Wales, 1911-1969. University of Wales Press. ISBN 978-0-7083-2000-6.
  6. King, Richard (2022-02-22). Brittle with Relics: A History of Wales, 1962–97 ('Oral history at its revelatory best' DAVID KYNASTON). Faber & Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-29566-1.
  7. Morra, Irene; Gossedge, Rob (2016-09-30). The New Elizabethan Age: Culture, Society and National Identity after World War II. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85772-834-0.
  8. Deacon, Thomas (2019-02-24). "Prince Charles, the investiture and bombs: How nationalists tried to stop it". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  9. "Should there be a Prince of Wales investiture in 21st century Wales?". ITV News. 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  10. Cork, Tristan (2018-04-09). "Why people don't want the Severn Crossing renamed 'Prince of Wales Bridge'". BristolLive. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  11. "Stradey to stage Gravell funeral". 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
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  15. "Tory MP tells Mark Drakeford to keep his 'nose out of the King's business' over Prince of Wales title". Nation.Cymru. 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
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  22. "New Prince of Wales to remain president of the English FA as they play Wales at the World Cup". Nation.Cymru. 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  23. Low, Valentine. "Prince of Wales criticised by Michael Sheen over England support". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  24. "Prince of Wales has no plans for investiture, Kensington Palace confirms". BBC News. 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
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  26. Owen, Cathy (13 September 2022). "Plaid leader wants vote on William's investiture as Prince of Wales". WalesOnline. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  27. "Prince William will be the last Prince of Wales, historian predicts". ITV News. 22 September 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
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  32. "Michael Sheen returned OBE to air views on royal family". the Guardian. 2020-12-29. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  33. Morris, Seren (2022-09-12). "Petition to end Prince of Wales title reaches 19k signatures". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
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  37. "Monarchy backed by 59% in Wales". 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
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  39. "Buckingham Palace event marks Prince of Wales' 50 years". BBC News. 2019-03-07. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  40. Jackson, Gregor (7 March 2019). "BBC Wales - St. David's Day Poll 2019 (2)". icmunlimited. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
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  42. "Only 46% want another Prince of Wales after Charles, poll suggests". Nation.Cymru. 2022-06-22. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
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