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King Charles makes William and Kate new Prince and Princess of Wales

09 Sep 2022 6 minute read
King Charles III delivers his address to the nation. Picture by Yui Mok / PA Wire

King Charles III has said that he is making William and Kate the new Prince and Princess of Wales.

The King said he was creating his son and heir, William, Prince of Wales adding: “With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given.”

He also said the title in Welsh, “Tywysog Cymru,” during his first address to the nation after the death of his mother Elizabeth II.

The title does not automatically pass on to the heir of the throne. It was only bestowed on Charles in 1958, six years after Elizabeth II’s reign started.

Writing on social media, First Minister Mark Drakeford responded: “King Charles III has enjoyed a long and enduring friendship with Wales.

“Today, in his first public duty as Monarch, he has bestowed the title of Prince of Wales to his eldest son William.

“We look forward to deepening our relationship with the new Prince and Princess.”

The announcement comes after over 2,000 people signed a petition in the last 24 hours calling for the title not to be passed on to the King’s heir.

The Royal title was originally given to Edward II of Caernarfon, son of Edward I who conquered Wales, as a means of confirming that the ‘Tywysog Cymru’ title previously held by native princes of Wales was subservient to that of the King of England.

Since then it has been held by 21 different heirs to the throne, although seven of them never became king.

Although created Prince of Wales, William may not be invested soon – the investiture at Caernarfon Castle did not happen until almost a decade after Prince Charles was given the title, in 1969, and such was the political turmoil that soldiers had to be drafted in to keep the peace.

Yesterday the former Llywydd of the Senedd, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, questioned the need to continue with the title of the Prince of Wales following the death of Elizabeth II.

Speaking of S4C Newyddion, he said that there was “no meaning” to the title which was a position with “no meaning to it in the constitution”.

“And I think, although nothing will happen this time, I I think this title will disappear because it doesn’t make any sense for a devolved, democratic country like Wales to have a prince these days,” he said.

The then Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Picture by Frankie Fouganthin (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Prince William has previously said that he will slim down the Prince of Wales role and focus on a handful of charities when he inherits the title after the Queen’s death.

He has said that he plans to slash by half the 140 or so staff employed by the current Prince of Wales.

The former Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, now King and Queen, were the President or Patron of over 500 organisations.

Prince Williams plans instead to focus on a handful of charities prioritising mental health, the environment and children’s early years, the Mail of Sunday said earlier this year.

He has no plans to take on The Prince’s Trust, the charity founded by Charles in 1976 to support vulnerable young people, which has three offices in Cardiff, Llangennech and Rhyl, and says it supports over 3,000 young people in Wales each year.

However, he will attempt to play a greater role with those charities he does retain.

The Mail of Sunday was told: “This approach isn’t a criticism of what has come before but just an acknowledgement of a desire for change.

“It’s about hope and optimism for the future. What is driving the Duke and Duchess in everything they do is urgency plus optimism equals action.

“Many of the causes adopted by the Duke and Duchess, whether it’s Earthshot [the annual prize awarded by the Royal Foundation for contributions to environmentalism] or the early years work, also touches on every other aspect of society so it’s not that they’re excluding other good causes by having a focus.”

They added: “‘There will also be new ways in which to interact with people and become credible and comfortable in five or six core subjects.”

‘Mama’

During his address, the King paid tribute to his late mother the Queen, saying in an address to the nation: “Throughout her life, Her Majesty The Queen – my beloved Mother – was an inspiration and example to me and to all my family, and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family can owe to their mother.”

“Queen Elizabeth was a life well lived; a promise with destiny kept and she is mourned most deeply in her passing,” he said. “That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today.

The King said the “affection, admiration and respect” the Queen inspired “became the hallmark of her reign”, adding: “And, as every member of my family can testify, she combined these qualities with warmth, humour and an unerring ability always to see the best in people.”

The King said that when The Queen came to the throne “Britain and the world were still coping with the privations and aftermath of the Second World War, and still living by the conventions of earlier times. In the course of the last seventy years we have seen our society become one of many cultures and many faiths.

He added that “as the Queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the Constitutional principles at the heart of our nation.”

The King added he wished to “express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas”.

The King ended his address by saying: “To my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: thank you. Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years. May ‘flights of angels sing thee to thy rest’.”


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Cathy Jones
Cathy Jones
2 years ago

Annibyniaeth!

Llyn
Llyn
2 years ago

As the President of the (English) FA and avid supporter of the English football team I wonder who the Prince of Wales will support when England play Wales in the World Cup?

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago
Reply to  Llyn

What Prince of Wales would that be then? Nobody asked me.

SundanceKid
SundanceKid
2 years ago
Reply to  Llyn

I could not care less about him or who he supports.

Huw
Huw
2 years ago

Totally unnecessary. We don’t need a foreign prince. We need an independent Republic.

George
George
2 years ago

This weakens the claim that Charles could live up to Queen Elizabeth II (specifically the rave reviews she’s been receiving over past 48 hours as one who modernised royal family) and is blatantly the wrong move.

Can we campaign to persuade Charles, William and Kate to change their minds? What do they get out of that title?

I.Humphrys
I.Humphrys
2 years ago
Reply to  George

………………….. “Royal Ambassador” to Wales………………

Would ease things for William, and us, as we head to independence and Commonwealth.

I.Humphrys
I.Humphrys
2 years ago
Reply to  I.Humphrys

This could be a last chance for them, before we mass our black and gold!

The Original Mark
The Original Mark
2 years ago

as long as he slims down the role to operating mainly the english side of the border, I couldn’t give a flying f**k what he calls himself. abolish the monarchy.

Hogyn y Gogledd
Hogyn y Gogledd
2 years ago

What role?

The so-called prince of Wales has no constitutional function at all.

If he were called Great Nabob of the Outer Planets, it would have as much meaning.

Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
2 years ago

The announcement of the new Prince of Wales (or no announcement of one) only confirms that Owain Glyndwr was the last legitimate person to hold the title. No change.

Steve George
Steve George
2 years ago

Well that’s a big f*ck you to Wales!

Tawelwch
Tawelwch
2 years ago

Wills and his grinning clothes horse consort are not welcome in Cymru!

SundanceKid
SundanceKid
2 years ago
Reply to  Tawelwch

I was surprised to see her grinning after a walkabout yesterday to greet royal fans outside Windsor Castle, on what was supposedly a sombre occasion. I do wonder if she’s all there.

aled Rees
aled Rees
2 years ago

FFS we need this like a hole in the head.To be honest they need this like a hole in the head.
I forcast holy hell if they try to invest in Caernarfon

defaid
defaid
2 years ago

He’s not mine.

Ken Griffiths
Ken Griffiths
2 years ago

Wales is a country not a principality. We do not need a foreign prince. This is a real smack in the face to Wales as a nation. I think that Yes Cymru are overjoyed. Just watch their support grow after this.

David Charles pearn
David Charles pearn
2 years ago
Reply to  Ken Griffiths

Let’s hope so, Cardiff October 1st 12 o’clock March for independence 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿.

I.Humphrys
I.Humphrys
2 years ago

Black and gold flags, boys!

Robert Griffiths
Robert Griffiths
2 years ago

No thanks. And of course, we have no say in it whatsoever. What a farce.

WilliamsG
WilliamsG
2 years ago

Another foreign prince forced onto Wales. The sooner we are an independent republic the better

Gill Jones
Gill Jones
2 years ago

Sheer arrogance – BIG mistake Carlo! I’ll be spending the weekend digging out the placards and more! Bring it on Charlie boy!

Tawelwch
Tawelwch
2 years ago

Shame on the sycophant Drakeford!

Rhosddu
Rhosddu
2 years ago
Reply to  Tawelwch

In fairness to the First Minister, he probably had no choice but to make this statement. It’s called diplomacy. Whether he means a single word of it is another matter.

SundanceKid
SundanceKid
2 years ago
Reply to  Rhosddu

He didn’t have a problem voicing his disappointment with Boris Johnson. Anything to do with royals or the Labour party and the cat has got his tongue.

Connoisseur of Understatement
Connoisseur of Understatement
2 years ago
Reply to  Tawelwch

Mark Drakeford, whether you love him or loathe him, is a master of understated prose, as well as being a self-described republican. Read his words again (in quotes below), and ask yourself if he’s being sycophantic or subtly cheeky. I think the latter.

“King Charles III has enjoyed a long and enduring friendship with Wales. Today, in his first public duty as Monarch, he has bestowed the title of Prince of Wales to his eldest son William. We look forward to deepening our relationship with the new Prince and Princess.”

Last edited 2 years ago by Connoisseur of Understatement
hdavies15
hdavies15
2 years ago

Acid test will be whether he rejects a gong when he puts his tools on the bar. He may fancy a shot at the Lords, nice fee and low stress.

Alan
Alan
2 years ago

No no no

Cymru77
Cymru77
2 years ago

Democratically done then

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

Yet again we have an English Monarch & Whitehall impose a Prince on Wales.. Very democratic! So we’ll have Prince William & Princess Kate patronise Wales once are year like his adulterer father & squeeze Camilla did , who like colonial masters will entertain some cheering school children waving both Welsh & Union Flags in a staged setting before being whizzed off to a dinner function and we won’t see their arses for dust for another year until they spend a few days in their holiday home in Carmarthen to fill their quota As a rugby fan I advise anyone… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Y Cymro
Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago
Reply to  Y Cymro

His adultery matters not a jot to me but what do Anglicans think now that the head of their church is a long-term adulterer who swore marriage vows in a cathedral while bedding another man’s wife.

Mr Williams
Mr Williams
2 years ago

How can you ‘slim down’ an 800 year old insult to a subjugated nation?
Gweriniaeth Cymru!

Maglocunos
Maglocunos
2 years ago

Dim diolch

CJPh
CJPh
2 years ago

Abolish the office, do the right thing. Reject this office. This is not right, you know this William. May the Queen of England rest in peace, God preserve the new King of England and THERE IS NO PRINCE OF WALES. Annibyniaeth nawr.

SundanceKid
SundanceKid
2 years ago
Reply to  CJPh

Don’t count on it. William is a chip off the old block and a product of the establishment. He also has a penchant for meddling just like his father does. He just hasn’t had the opportunity to do too much of it yet.

David Harking
David Harking
2 years ago

Boo the absolute hell out of them during a public appearance it won’t go unnoticed.

David Charles pearn
David Charles pearn
2 years ago
Reply to  David Harking

Like they did in the carribbean the BBC tried keeping that of the screens

Bryn
Bryn
2 years ago

Na.
Dim diolch!

Arwyn
Arwyn
2 years ago

Grim.

REK
REK
2 years ago

They can’t even be bothered to represent us on the butchers apron or the royal standard. England on there twice. No sign of anything representing Wales. As per usual the English establishment gives us the middle finger and we roll over and take it.

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
2 years ago

Very disappointing to see Mark Drakeford putting himself forward for the title of ‘royal sycophant in-chief’. Had no idea he valued a place among their Lordships quite so much. But Drakeford and his masters in the british establishment must know in their hearts that this contemptible piece of sleight of hand will have no legitimacy in the eyes of the people of Wales

SundanceKid
SundanceKid
2 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

He’ll know but he will hope we do not notice.

Ken covack
Ken covack
2 years ago

Rise up, rise up from your weary slumber, take back what is ours, our Cymraeg, our Annibyniaeth, our sovereign state.

David Charles pearn
David Charles pearn
2 years ago
Reply to  Ken covack

Beautifully put.

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago

So it appears they won’t stop. So the fight begins. They thought the protests of ’69 were bad – wait until this time. How much humiliation should a country take ?? In Cymru’s case – too much !

R W
R W
2 years ago

Absolutely disgusting. However, it will be a big boost for the indy campaign!!

Llefain
Llefain
2 years ago

This is an intentional insult.
They will never stop insulting us and degrading us, and acting like they own us because we just sit here and take it.
I can’t type the rest of what I am thinking here but… my god, I am sick of this god forsaken “union” and all its disgusting “traditions” and “institutions”. And this family of useless, grifting, thieves the most.
Didn’t even give us time to have an opinion on it. Coward. Evil. Enough!

David Charles pearn
David Charles pearn
2 years ago

How in God’s name are we allowing the very English William and Kate to become the Prince and Princess of Wales, this should have stopped at Charles becoming King for goodness sake 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿.

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