Prince of Wales
{{Otheruses1|the title Prince of Wales}} {{for|the current holder of the title Prince of Wales|Charles, Prince of Wales}}
Prince of Wales () is a title traditionally granted to the
Heir Apparent to the reigning monarch of the
United Kingdom (and formerly the
Kingdom of Great Britain and before that the
Kingdom of England). The current Prince of Wales is
Prince Charles, the eldest son of
Queen Elizabeth II.
Roles and responsibilities
The Prince of Wales currently has no formal role or responsibility that has been legislated by
Parliament or otherwise delegated by the
Monarchy. Prince Charles, as the 21st holder of the title has created the following three roles for himself:
(1)
- Undertaking royal duties in support of The Queen
- Working as a charitable entrepreneur
- Promoting and protecting nationalisation, virtues and excellence.
History
For most of the post-
Roman period,
Wales was divided into several smaller states. Prior to the
Norman conquest of England, the most powerful
Welsh ruler at any given time was generally known as
King of the Britons. In the 12th century and the 13th century, this title evolved into that of
Prince of Wales.{{Fact|date=October 2008}} In
Latin, the new title was "Princeps Wallie", while in
Welsh it was "Tywysog Cymru". The literal translation of "
Tywysog" is "Leader" (The verb
tywys means
to lead, which shares a common root with the modern Irish for prime minister, the
Taoiseach). Only a handful of native princes had their claim to be Prince of Wales recognized by the English Crown. In 1218,
Llywelyn the Great had the title bestowed upon him and his successors by his half-brother-in-law, the 11-year old
Henry III. In 1240, the title was inherited by his son
Dafydd ap Llywelyn and, in 1246, by his nephew
Llywelyn the Last (or Llywelyn ap Gruffydd). In 1282, Llywelyn was 'deposed' by
Edward I of England and the Prince of Wales title became dormant. Although Llywelyn ap Gruffydd was the last native Prince of Wales recognized by the English Crown, it is
Owain Glyndŵr whom many
Welsh people regard as being the last native Prince. On September 16, 1400, he was proclaimed Prince of Wales by his supporters and it was not until 1409 that his revolt in quest of Welsh independence was suppressed by
Henry IV. The tradition of investing the heir of the monarch of Britain with the title of "Prince of Wales" began in 1301, when King
Edward I of England, having completed the conquest of Wales, gave the title to his heir, Prince Edward (later King
Edward II of England). According to a famous legend, the king had promised the rebellious Welsh natives that he would name "a prince born in Wales, who did not speak a word of
English" and then produced his infant son to their surprise (and presumable
chagrin). However, the story may well be
apocryphal, as it can only be traced to the 16th century, and, in the time of Edward I, the English aristocracy spoke
Norman French, not English (some versions of the legend include lack of knowledge in
both languages as a requirement). However, Edward II certainly
was born at
Caernarfon while his father was campaigning in Wales, and like all infants, could not at the time speak English.Since 1301, the Prince of Wales has usually been the eldest living son of the King or Queen Regnant of England (subsequently of Great Britain, 1707, and of the United Kingdom, 1801). The word "living" is important. Following the death of Prince Arthur, the Prince of Wales, Henry VII invested his second son, the future Henry VIII, with the title--although only after it was clear that Arthur's wife,
Catherine of Aragon, was not pregnant. The title is not automatic; it merges into the Crown when a prince accedes to the throne, or lapses on his death leaving the sovereign free to re-grant it should another candidate qualify, such as an heir-apparent other than the eldest living son, such as that deceased eldest son's eldest son (for example,
George III).The Principality of Wales, nowadays, is always conferred along with the Earldom of
Chester. The convention began in 1399; all previous Princes of Wales also received the earldom, but separately from the Principality. Indeed, before 1272 a hereditary and not necessarily royal
Earldom of Chester had already been created several times, eventually merging in the crown each time. The earldom was recreated, merging in the Crown in 1307 and again in 1327. Its creations since have been associated with the creations of the Principality of Wales.
Heraldic insignia
Image:Badge of the Prince of Wales.svg|thumb|229px|
The "Prince of Wales' Feathers". This
Heraldic badge of the Heir Apparent is derived from the
ostrich feathers borne by
Edward, the Black Prince. The
German mottomottoAs
heir apparent to the reigning 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 King Edward VIII in 1910, and followed by the current Prince of Wales, Prince Charles.
(2)He has a
badge of
three ostrich feathers (which can be seen on the reverse of all decimal
British two pence coins dated up to 2008); it dates back to the
Black Prince and is his as the English heir even before he is made Prince of Wales.In addition to these symbols used most frequently, he has a special standard for use in Wales itself. Moreover, as
Duke of Rothesay he has a special coat of arms for use in
Scotland (and a corresponding standard); as
Duke of Cornwall the like for use in the Duchy of Cornwall. Representations of all three may be found at
List of British flags.For theories about the origin of the
ostrich feather
badge and of the
motto "
Ich dien", see
Prince of Wales's feathers.
Other titles and investiture
The Principality of Wales and
Earldom of Chester must be created, and are not automatically acquired like the
Dukedom of Cornwall, which is the
Heir Apparent's title in
England, and the
Dukedom of Rothesay,
Earldom of Carrick, and
High Stewardship of Scotland, which are the
Heir Apparent's titles in
Scotland. The dignities are not hereditary, but may be re-created if the Prince of Wales predeceases the King. For example, when
Prince Frederick, Prince of Wales predeceased
King George II, his eldest son,
Prince George (the future George III) was created Prince of Wales. The heir apparent is only Duke of Cornwall if he is the sovereign's eldest living son; hence the future
George III, grandson of
George II, did not receive this title. See
Duke of Cornwall for more details.If holder of the
Dukedom of York, the traditional title for the monarch's second son, becomes Heir Apparent on the death of an older brother, he is entitled to retain that title.
Prince Henry (later Henry VIII),
Prince Charles (later Charles I) and
Prince George (later George V) were all second sons, and were therefore already Duke of York when they received the Principality of Wales.Following the reversion to the Earldom of Chester to the crown, in 1254
Henry III passed the Lordship of Chester (but not the title of Earl) to his son Edward, who as
Edward I bestowed the Earldom of Chester on his son
Edward when he created him the first Prince of Wales in 1301. The Dukedom of Cornwall was first created by
Edward III for his son
Edward, the Black Prince in 1337.The Earldom of Carrick merged into the crown of Scotland with the accession in 1306 of the Earl of Carrick,
Robert the Bruce, who transferred the title to his son
David in 1328 (the title became automatically subsidiary to the Dukedom of Rothesay in 1469); the High Stewardship merged into the crown with the accession of Robert, 7th High Steward of Scotland as
Robert III in 1371; the Dukedom of Rothesay was created by
Robert III of Scotland for his son
David in 1398. All three of these titles merged with the Principality in the same person after the personal union of the Scottish and English crowns in 1603 with the accession of James VI of Scotland as
James I of England, with the first Prince of Wales to receive them being his son
Henry Frederick (subsequently an incorporating union created a single British crown in 1707).Princes of Wales may be invested, but investiture is not necessary to be created Prince of Wales. Peers were also invested, but investitures for peers ceased in 1621, during a time when peerages were being created so frequently that the investiture ceremony became cumbersome. Most investitures for Princes of Wales were held in front of Parliament, but in 1911, the future
Edward VIII was invested in
Caernarvon Castle in Wales. The present Prince of Wales was also invested there, in 1969. During the reading of the
letters patent creating the Prince, the
Honours of the Principality of Wales are delivered to the Prince. The coronet of the heir-apparent bears four-crosses pattée alternating with four
fleurs-de-lis, surmounted by a single arch (the Sovereign's crowns are of the same design, but use two arches). A gold rod is also used in the insignia; gold rods were formally used in the investitures of dukes, but survive now in the investitures of Princes of Wales only. Also part of the insignia are a ring, a sword and a robe.
"Heir Apparent" vs. "Heir Presumptive"
The title Prince of Wales is given only to the heir apparent—that is, a male who cannot be displaced in the succession to the throne by any future birth. This would be the eldest son of the monarch, or, if he is deceased,
his eldest son, and so on, or if the monarch's son has died without issue, the monarch's second eldest son, etc.In countries that practice male
primogeniture, a daughter or sibling of the sovereign who is currently next in line to the throne is not the "heir apparent" because they would be displaced in the succession by any future legitimate son of the sovereign: they are instead the "heir presumptive" and cannot therefore take the title of Prince (or Princess) of Wales in their own right. Hence there was no heir apparent during the reign of
George VI, who had no sons:
Princess Elizabeth was an heir presumptive, and was hence not eligible to be titled Princess of Wales (the option of bestowing that title on her was considered and rejected).
List of Princes of Wales
Prince of Wales as independent title
{| width=95% class="wikitable"!Picture!Name!Heir of!Birth!Became Prince of Wales!Ceased to be Prince of Wales!Death!Other titles while Prince of Wales!Princess of Wales
|
| Image:LlywelynFawr.jpg | > | Llywelyn the Great | > | N/A |
father was Iorwerth Drwyndwn > | c.1173 | align="center" | | April 11, 1240 | align="center" | Kingdom of Gwynedd>Prince of Gwynedd, |
List of rulers of Wales > | Joan |
|
| Image:Coat of arms of Wales.svg | > | Dafydd ap Llywelyn | align="center" | | father was Llywelyn the Great>Llywelyn ab Iorwerth align="center" | | April 11, 1240 | align="center" colspan=2 | | Kingdom of Gwynedd | ,
List of rulers of Wales>Prince of Southern Powys | align="center"| Isabella de Braose |
|
| Image:Coat of arms of Wales.svg | > | Llywelyn the Last | > | N/A |
father was Gruffydd ap Llywelyn Fawr > | c.1223 | align="center" | | December 11, 1282 |
killed in battle,
Wales conquered by English align="center" | Kingdom of Gwynedd>Prince of Gwynedd | align="center"| Eleanor de Montfort |
|
!Picture!Name!Heir of!Birth!Became Prince of Wales!Ceased to be Prince of Wales!Death!Other titles while Prince of Wales!Princess of Wales
Prince of Wales as title of English Heir-apparent
{| width=95% class="wikitable"!Picture!Name!Heir of!Birth!Became Heir to the Throne!Created Prince of Wales!Ceased to be Prince of Wales!Death!Other titles while Prince of Wales!Princess of Wales|
| Image:EdwardII-Cassell.jpg | > | Edward of Caernarfon |
later Edward II of England > | Edward I of England | > | April 25, 1284 | align="center" | | February 7, 1301 | align="center" | | became King > September 21, 1327 | align="center" | Count of Ponthieu, Earl of Chester > | – |
|
| Image:EdwardIII-Cassell.jpg | > | Edward of Windsor |
later Edward III of England > | Edward II | align="center" colspan="2" | | – | align="center" | | became King > June 21, 1377 | align="center" | Count of Ponthieu, Earl of Chester > | – |
|
| Image:Plantagenet, Edward, The Black Prince, Iconic Image.JPG | > | Edward, the Black Prince | > | Edward III | align="center" colspan="2" | | May 12, 1343 | (3) align="center" colspan="2" | | Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall | align="center"| Joan of Kent |
|
| Image:Richard II of England.jpg | > | Richard of Bordeaux |
later Richard II of England > | January 6, 1367 | align="center" | | November 20, 1376 | align="center" | | became King > February 14, 1400 | align="center" | Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester > | – |
|
| Image:Henry5.JPG | > | Henry of Monmouth |
later Henry V of England > | Henry IV of England | > | September 16, 1387 | align="center" | | October 15, 1399 | align="center" | | became King > August 31, 1422 | align="center" | Duke of Lancaster, Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester > | – |
|
!Picture!Name!Heir of!Birth!Became Heir to the Throne!Created Prince of Wales!Ceased to be Prince of Wales!Death!Other titles while Prince of Wales!Princess of Wales
Owain Glyndŵr
{| width=95% class="wikitable"!Picture!Name!Heir of!Birth!Became Prince of Wales!Ceased to be Prince of Wales!Death!Other titles while Prince of Wales!Princess of WalesModern princes of Wales
{| width=95% class="wikitable"!Picture!Name!Heir of!Birth!Became Heir to the Throne!Created Prince of Wales!Ceased to be Prince of Wales!Death!Other titles while Prince of Wales!Princess of Wales|
| Image:Badge of the Prince of Wales.svg | > | Edward of Westminster | align="center" | Henry VI of England>Henry VI | align="center" colspan="2" | | March 15, 1454 | align="center" | Father deposed | > May 4, 1471 | align="center" | Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester > | Anne Neville |
|
| Image:King-edward-v.jpg | > | Edward of the Sanctuary |
later Edward V of England > | Edward IV of England | > | November 4, 1470 | align="center" | | June 26, 1471 | align=center | | became King > 1483? | align="center" | Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester > | – |
|
| Image:Edward of Middleham (geograph).jpg | > | Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales | > | Richard III of England | > | 1473 | align="center" | | August 24, 1483 | align="center" colspan=2 | | Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester, Earl of Salisbury | align="center"| – |
|
| Image:Arthur2.jpg | > | Arthur, Prince of Wales | > | Henry VII of England | > | September 20, 1486 | align=center | | April 2, 1502 | align="center" | Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester > | Catherine of Aragon |
|
| Image:HenryVIII 1509.jpg | > | Henry Tudor |
later Henry VIII of England > | June 28, 1491 | align="center" | | February 18, 1504 | align="center" | | became King > January 28, 1547 | align="center" | Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester, Duke of York > | – |
|
| Image:Hans Holbein d. J. 044.jpg | > | Edward Tudor |
later Edward VI of England > | Henry VIII | align="center" colspan="2" | | October 1537 | align=center | | became King > July 6, 1553 | align="center" | Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester > | – |
|
| | align=center | Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales>Henry Frederick Stuart | align="center" rowspan="2" | James I of England>James I | align="center" | | March 24, 1603 | align=center | | > November 6, 1612 | align="center" | Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Chester, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland > | – |
|
| Image:Prince Charles the Future Charles I by Robert Peake, 1613. (University of Cambridge).jpg | > | Charles Stuart |
later Charles I of England > | November 19, 1600 | align="center" | | November 4, 1616 | align="center" | | became King > January 30, 1649 | align="center" | Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Duke of York, Earl of Chester, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland > | – |
|
| Image:Charles II when Prince of Wales by William Dobson, 1642.jpg | > | Charles Stuart |
later Charles II of England > | Charles I | align="center" colspan="2" | | | declared c. 1638-1641align="center" | | title abolished
(became King 1660) > February 6, 1685 | align="center" | Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Chester, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland > | – |
|
| Image:Pretend3.jpeg | > | James Francis Edward Stuart | align="center" | James II of England>James II | align="center" colspan="2" | | | c. July 4, 1688 align="center" | | Father deposed > January 1, 1766 | align="center" | Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Chester, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland > | – |
|
| Image:KING GEORGE II.jpg | > | George Augustus |
later George II of Great Britain > | George I of Great Britain | > | November 10, 1683 | align=center | | September 27, 1714 | align="center" | | became King > October 25, 1760 | align="center" | Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Chester, Earl of Carrick, Earl of Milford Haven, Viscount Northallerton, Baron Renfrew, Baron Tewkesbury, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland > | Caroline of Ansbach |
|
| Image:Frederick Prince of Wales.jpg | > | Frederick, Prince of Wales | > | George II | align="center" | | June 11, 1727 | align=center | | > March 31, 1751 | align="center" | Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Duke of Edinburgh, Marquess of the Isle of Ely, Earl of Chester, Earl of Carrick, Earl of Eltham, Viscount Launceston, Baron Renfrew, Baron Snowdon, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland > | Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha |
|
| Image:George III in Coronation Robes.jpg | > | George William Frederick |
later George III of the United Kingdom > | June 4, 1738 | align="center" | | April 20, 1751 | align="center" | | became King > January 29, 1820 | align="center" | Duke of Edinburgh, Marquess of the Isle of Ely, Earl of Chester, Earl of Eltham, Viscount Launceston, Baron Snowdon > | – |
|
| Image:George IV bust1.jpg | > | George Augustus Frederick |
later George IV of the United Kingdom > | George III | align="center" colspan="2" | | August 19, 1762 | align="center" | | became King > June 26, 1830 | align="center" | Prince Regent, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Chester, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland > | Caroline of Brunswick |
|
| Image:Prince Edward 1860.jpg | > | Albert Edward |
later Edward VII of the United Kingdom > | Victoria of the United Kingdom | > | November 9, 1841 | align="center" | | January 22, 1901 |
became King align="center" | | Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Chester, Earl of Carrick, Earl of Dublin, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland | align="center"| Alexandra of Denmark |
|
| Image:NSRW George V when Duke of Cornwall and York.png | > | George |
later George V of the United Kingdom > | Edward VII | align="center" | | January 22, 1901 | align=center | | May 6, 1910 |
became King align=center | | Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Duke of York, Earl of Chester, Earl of Carrick, Earl of Inverness, Baron Renfrew, Baron Killarney, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland | align="center"| Mary of Teck |
|
| Image:Edward V111 circa1915.jpg | > | Edward |
later Edward VIII of the United Kingdom and then Duke of Windsor | > George V | align="center" | | May 6, 1910 | align="center" | | January 20, 1936 |
became King align="center" | | Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Chester, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland | align="center"| – |
|
| Image:Charles, Prince of Wales.jpg | > | Charles, Prince of Wales | > | Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom | > | November 14, 1948 | align="center" | | July 26, 1958 | align="center" colspan="2" | Incumbent | > Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Chester, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland | align="center" | Diana, Princess of Wales>Lady Diana Spencer; |
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (latter does not use title "Princess of Wales")
References
{{refs}}See also
External links
{{Princes of Wales}}{{British royal titles}}أمير ويلزPrinc od Velsa(zh-min-nan:Cymru ê Thâu-lâng)Príncep de Gal·lesPrinc z WalesuTywysog CymruPrins af WalesPrince of WalesWalesi printsPríncipe de GalesPrinco de KimrujoPrince de GallesPríncipe de Gales웨일스 공Pangeran WalesPrincipe del Gallesנסיך ויילסVelsas princisPutera WalesPrins van Walesプリンス・オブ・ウェールズPrins av WalesKsiążę WaliiPríncipe de GalesПринц УэльскийPrince of WalesWalesin prinssiPrins av Walesเจ้าชายแห่งเวลส์پرنس آف ویلز威爾士親王
(...as imported from WP)
article has not been saved locally
.jpg</td><td_80px){kind=link}
.jpg</td><td_80px){kind=link}
