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Welsh Government says ‘we will decide’ whether to distribute ‘patriotic’ Royal history book in Wales’ schools

09 Feb 2022 3 minute read
Elizabeth II & Philip after Coronation. Picture by Cecil Beaton. Right, Jeremy Miles picture by the Welsh Government.

The Welsh Government have said that the decision on distributing a ‘patriotic’ history book in Wales will be up to Education Minister Jeremy Miles – not the UK Government.

The UK Government have said that they will send every school child in Wales a “patriotic” book about the Queen’s reign so that they and other children across the UK develop a “collective understanding” about the history of her time on the throne.

The contract awarded to DK books notes that 211,000 copies of a dual language version of the book will be sent to pupils in 1,290 schools and other educational establishments in Wales.

But the Welsh Government told Nation.Cymru that the decision will rest with them, rather than the UK Government.

“We are not contributing to the cost of these books,” they said. “As Education is devolved in Wales, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language will make a decision on whether the book will be circulated to Welsh Schools once he has seen the final version.”

‘All regions of the UK’

The contract agreed with published DK Books includes a clause that the books must be delivered to at least 99.5% of schools in Wales by 11 July 2022.

The book contract says that the supplier will provide a book “written with the aim of being inclusive, patriotic and ‘speaking to all children’ with regard to all regions of the UK”.

“The Jubilee itself will help communicate a narrative about modern Britain and its connections with the rest of the world, through local, community driven events,
including those led by schools, alongside national and Commonwealth events,” the contract says.

“The book will be a key part of this strategic aim, by ensuring that pupils, families, and teachers develop a collective understanding of the Queen’s reign, and by providing children with an appropriate legacy through personal ownership of this high-quality book.”

It adds: “The book shall be inclusive and patriotic, capturing a spirit akin to the London 2012 Olympics.”

The book is set to cost £12 million to produce with around 4.5 million copies sent to schoolchildren in the UK. However, the individual costs of producing a version for Wales and its distribution has been redacted from the document.

A Gaelic language version of the book will also be produced but will not be dual language.

The Queen became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne, on 6 February this year.

Celebrations will culminate in a four day UK bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June.

A Platinum Jubilee Celebration on 12th -15th May will also see over 500 horses and 1,000 performers create a 90-minute piece of arena theatre.


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Erisian
Erisian
2 years ago

Oooh wait for backlash…. 10, 9, 8 ,7 ,6 ……..
Indignition, whinge-off!

Sian
Sian
2 years ago

Wales is a nation not a region of the UK. Surely they should have consulted before commissioning this book. Very wise for our education Minister to see it before deciding if it’s appropriate. Really the money should have come to the nations via consequential funding.

Last edited 2 years ago by Sian
BobSnail
BobSnail
2 years ago
Reply to  Sian

The Welsh Education Minister needs to check the Welsh translation as well.

Rhosddu
Rhosddu
2 years ago
Reply to  BobSnail

Before checking the Welsh-language version, the Education Minister needs to consider whether this book is educational or not. Is it appropriate for Welsh schools, or would it be more suitable to be marketed as a coffee-table book for someone’s Nain, and sold at Christmas in Smith’s?

William Glyn THOMAS
William Glyn THOMAS
2 years ago

NOT more English history?

Gareth Wyn Jones
Gareth Wyn Jones
2 years ago

99.9 % lies more like

Aled Griffiths
Aled Griffiths
2 years ago

What a complete waste of public money.?

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

If you’re writing a history book your aim should be accuracy not patriotism. A ‘Patriotic’ history is not an accurate history, but no doubt the Conservatives will benefit from the culture war when people want an accurate and comprehensive history of the Queen.

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago

Andrew RT Davies has announced that he will personally deliver his hand-written version to every child in Wales if the woke Marxist totalitarians refuse.

Peter Cuthbert
Peter Cuthbert
2 years ago
Reply to  Kerry Davies

Perhaps we need to have “balance” and if the book is distribued make sure that it goes out with a copy of “The Myth of the British Monarchy” by Prof Edgar Wilson. Parents wishing to get a preview can get a copy of “The Myth” from Republic.

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

Noted, diolch. Many in England are saying “Elizabeth the Last”. They see her as being hard working and diligent, but now the show is coming to an end.

Last edited 2 years ago by I.Humphrys
Richard
Richard
2 years ago
Reply to  I.Humphrys

100 per cent right 👍🏼 ER2 has given of her best in a role she didnt apply for. She has tolerated a host of PMs from Churchill the ‘ friend’ of our Rhondda miners through to St Margaret of Thatcher the ‘ friend ‘ of all miners along to Tony B the. ‘ friend’ of Iraq and George Bush ending up with Boris of the Last . She dismatled and waved good bye to most of the Empire and has had more family issues than any TV Soap. Just send out the book and a letter of thanks – over… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Richard
Clive Busson
Clive Busson
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter Cuthbert

Can you please send a link for this article please? Thanks

Hogyn y Gogledd
Hogyn y Gogledd
2 years ago

I trust our Education Minister can decide that they are inappropriate and can ban them?

Gill Jones
Gill Jones
2 years ago

Agree totally. What Jeremy needs to do is to pile them high in a huge bonfire – I will gladly supply the matches.

Grayham Jones
2 years ago

No royals books in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 it’s time for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 stop being little Englanders and be proud to be welsh start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Stephen Owen
Stephen Owen
2 years ago
Reply to  Grayham Jones

Cymru am byth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Cwm Rhondda
Cwm Rhondda
2 years ago

When will this nonsense end? Is it an educational sound exercise to expose children to the ‘British Project’? A project that has created a Wales where we’re one of the poorest countries in western Europe. The days of bowing and scraping to the royal family is outdated and does nothing for our self esteem.

Eifion
Eifion
2 years ago

Boy, how North Korean….

Even Kim Jong-un would be saying, steady on guys, let’s try to keep a resemblance of realism here, we need the population to buy this retelling of history…..

Stephen Owen
Stephen Owen
2 years ago

Waste of money

Malcolm rj
Malcolm rj
2 years ago

I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THAT SHE Was the Queen of England so what’s changed wouldn’t it be better for Welsh children be given A book what happened to the Welsh Royalty

Wncomunco
Wncomunco
2 years ago
Reply to  Malcolm rj

The Tudors are related to the Queen and when the Tudors, the conquerors of England entered London in triumph in 1485 Hari had carried a new flag of Wales at the head of his entourage. The Welsh dragon covered for the first time by the Tudor colours and those Tudor colours still fly on the emblem of Wales today. Great to see the connection between our Queen today and the Welsh Tudor dynasty.

Bari boy
Bari boy
2 years ago
Reply to  Wncomunco

That’s fantastic did not know the current Welsh flag was based on the Tudor conquest of England.

lufcwls
lufcwls
2 years ago
Reply to  Bari boy

It’s literally just the colours green and white, that is it.

Paul
Paul
2 years ago
Reply to  Wncomunco

‘our queen’ lol and lol again. I doubt there is enough queen to go round given the servile slavish devotion of the ‘never Wales never Welsh’ to any expression of English control over their country.

R W
R W
2 years ago

I doubt the Scottish Government will agree to this propaganda being handed out to their kids and the Welsh Government should refuse as well.

Mr Williams
Mr Williams
2 years ago

Well don’t expect me to hand them out in my classes!

Clive Busson
Clive Busson
2 years ago

Even Kim Jong il would be embarrassed by this blatant state propaganda!

Gareth Wyn Jones
Gareth Wyn Jones
2 years ago

Stand up to bullies, just say NO!

Llefain
Llefain
2 years ago

So, the UK government is trying to put the Welsh Government in a position of appearing anti-monarchy and “separatist”. Well played. Your Telegraph and Daily Mail reading voters will love it. Meanwhile, back in reality, could we just get the Barnett consequential money for culture and education? Maybe we could give every child something useful, or just put the extra toward school supplies or a small bonus for teachers. Much more productive than a book of the same propaganda that everyone, including children, will probably have shoved down their throats by every paper, magazine, TV and radio programme for a… Read more »

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