Support our Nation today - please donate here
News

‘Don’t have another Prince of Wales investiture’, historian warns unionists

16 Sep 2021 3 minute read
‘Cofia 1282’, a protest against the investiture of Prince Charles at Caernarfon Castle in North Wales. By Geoff Charles. This image is available from the National Library of Wales

A historian has warned unionists against having another Prince of Wales investiture.

Professor Martin Johnes of Swansea University argued that the investiture of Prince Charles in Caernarfon in 1969 was “great PR for Welsh nationalism.”

The investiture in 1969 proved to be an excellent target for satirists – from the mocking cartoons of Tafod y Ddraig and Lol to Dafydd Iwan’s records, such as Carlo.

Arwel Vittle, author of Dim Croeso ’69  has previously written on Nation.Cymru: “What better target for ridicule for young nationalists who wanted to change and modernise their country, than a pseudo-medieval ceremony in a castle full of obsequious old men?”

Students across all University of Wales campuses held several sit-in demonstrations and hunger strikes to mark their opposition to the royal event.

Professor Johnes said that he “cannot see what unionism would have to gain” if a similar ceremony were held if and when Prince William, Duke of Cambridge becomes the Prince of Wales.

He told the The National: “1969 saw two different visions of Wales, and although the British vision far outweighed the Welsh nationalism at the time, it was great PR for Welsh nationalism.

“If it happened again, there would be a very loud minority who would use it as a way of promoting their vision to the world.

“You would see what currently happens on social media being aired more openly to a larger audience.

“If you asked my advice, I would say not to have that investiture. I cannot see what unionism would have to gain.

‘Muscular unionism’ 

He added: “The current UK government does seem very much in favour of muscular unionism, but that doesn’t work. It is about a singular idea of what Britishness is.

“The majority of people feel Welsh and British. The union has survived by allowing people to have two nationalities, and good politics plays those two.

“Muscular unionism doesn’t play that game. It is very easy to imagine the current UK government using an investiture to promote unionism and Britishness, but they would forget that the investiture in 1961 was to promote Welshness and Britishness.

“That is Welsh history, the Conservatives have done more for Welsh nationalism through annoying Welsh people, than anyone.”


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
13 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Cai Wogan Jones
Cai Wogan Jones
3 years ago

If the English want to celebrate the conquest with another investiture ceremony for one of their princes, they should follow the tradition of holding them in England – a tradition that continued for more than 600 years. The ceremonies arranged by Lloyd George in 1911 and by Lord Snowdon in 1969 were aberrations.

Last edited 3 years ago by Cai Wogan Jones
Huw Davies
Huw Davies
3 years ago

Shouldn’t that be Aberrations?

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
3 years ago

I say go for it unionists, I have read about the trouble this brought to the English establishment and these days we are more connected and plan things a lot better. Try sticking your member in the fire pit and see what happens.

Dafydd
Dafydd
3 years ago

Let’s see the return of M.A.C.

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
3 years ago

The Tories and the royal family live in the past – they’ll push for an investiture believing it won’t cause further nationalism, it’s the sort of arrogance I’d expect from them, it’s been there for 700 years. Let them do it, it’ll help us no end.

Grayham Jones
3 years ago

No English royals in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 it’s time for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 A Free Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Llewelyn
Llewelyn
3 years ago
Reply to  Grayham Jones

And a free North wales….led by the kingdom of Gwynedd. No rule from the South of Wales.

Phil Jones
Phil Jones
3 years ago
Reply to  Llewelyn

Oh the unionists will love you, just what they like to hear. Never heard the phrase “Divide and rule”?

Welsh_Sion
Welsh_Sion
3 years ago

they would forget that the investiture in 1961 was to promote Welshness and Britishness.

______

Shurely shome mishtake? 1969, methinks.

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
3 years ago

Ryan a Ronnie did a bit dressing up as OTT older Welsh women who continually described Prince Charles as “Our hero…”. There were significant numbers of them around at the time. 50 years on, I think Royle Family repeats are more popular than the ‘real’ Royal Family! Another investiture could prove embarrassing or funny or both.

Last edited 3 years ago by Huw Davies
Stephen Owen
Stephen Owen
3 years ago

“That is Welsh history, the Conservatives have done more for Welsh nationalism through annoying Welsh people, than anyone.” Very true. Cymru am byth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Andrew
Andrew
3 years ago

Get your eggs in now so they are rotten when / if the investiture goes ahead.

David Smith
David Smith
3 years ago

Why is nobody countering with the simple truth that as an independent state, we will still be Welsh and British?

Our Supporters

All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018.