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Opinion

Why King Charles’ doff of the crown to Wales was a fitting bookend to 25 years of devolution

18 Sep 2022 5 minute read
King Charles III speaking in the Senedd. Picture by Andrew Matthews.

Ifan Morgan Jones

Today marks 25 years since the devolution referendum on 18 September 1997, an anniversary that has gone largely unmarked – perhaps overshadowed by the Queen’s death last week.

But by complete coincidence, King Charles’ first visit to Wales on Friday did serve as a fitting bookend to Wales’ first quarter of a century since we decided to have a parliament and government of our own.

You might think, ‘well, we don’t need Royalty to give our Senedd the seal of approval, so who cares what Charles thinks’.

But what King Charles’ visit did demonstrate is that in reality the British establishment – whatever they might claim – do now recognise that Welsh nationhood is here to stay.

On his visit, King Charles met the Archbishop of Wales, then went to the Senedd, and had a private audience with the First Minister.

It’s worth emphasising that just over 100 years ago, none of these institutions or roles existed. Just 25 years ago, the last two did not.

King Charles’ own words during his visit also made it clear that the British establishment is in no doubt that Wales’s nationhood is now the settled will of its people.

Delivering half his speech in Welsh, he referred to Wales as a “special country” and was even moved to mention the Tywysogion that led Wales as an independent nation, pre-conquest.

It was clear that a great deal of thought and effort had gone into his words, and they were all the more remarkable when juxtaposed with the ‘muscular unionism’ of the UK Government.

It showed that while the likes of here today and gone tomorrow politicians such Lord Frost can claim that Wales isn’t a nation, the British establishment at its core understands the reality of Welsh politics.

A Conservative government can get voted out of office, regroup, and come back at the next election. But the Royal Family have to take the long view, for their own survival.

Charles III will be very aware of the history of Charles I and Charles II, and know that the very concept of a British monarchy has had lucky escapes in the past.

He couldn’t gaslight Wales for short-term electoral gain. He had to win Wales’ approval as it is – and that meant aligning himself with what Wales is and what the people of Wales think, not Wales as the UK Government wishes it was.

He knows that the way to keep his kingdom together is to recognise and make feel valued its constituent parts in all their individual distinctiveness.

Ground up

While there was no doubt a great deal of enthusiasm in Wales for his visit, it will have been the boos that rang out outside Cardiff Castle that would have been left ringing in King Charles’ ears.

People will say that this was a small, hard-core crowd of republicans that did not represent the will of the majority.

But it is one of the paradoxes of nations is that their futures are very often shaped by the actions of small, but very enthusiastic, minorities that want to see change.

No one can realistically claim that there was a great deal of enthusiasm for devolution 25 years ago. Only half of the voters turned out at all and the win was as narrow as could possibly be.

In the end, the future of Wales was decided by under 20% of its total population.

And yet here we are 25 years later, with those same institutions fully embraced by the nation’s population. 95% now support devolution existing in some form, according to the latest opinion poll.

That crowd booing the King outside Cardiff castle was small but had an outsized effect, with their discontent echoing across the world.

CNN even described Wales as the most ‘hostile’ of the nations the King had visited. It’s quite a huge turnaround for Wales, known until quite recently for its political quietism, has become a ‘more hostile’ destination for the Head of State than Northern Ireland and Scotland.

That crowd were of course condemned as being a minority, told to shut up, and called extremists.

But in the 19th century, those campaigning for the disestablishment of the Church of England and Wales were dismissed the same way.

For much of the 20th century, those who wanted a Welsh parliament and government were labelled as a fringe group.

Eileen Beasley couldn’t get her council bill written up in Welsh 70 years ago, and now here was the King of the United Kingdom delivering half his speech in that language.

In a few weeks, the same streets the King rode through will be filled with marchers for Welsh independence.

This King’s visit may have been a show of top-down authority. But its substance showed that nations are built from the ground up.


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Dafydd
Dafydd
1 year ago

I’ve said it before and I will say it again: boooooo!

Andy Williams
1 year ago
Reply to  Dafydd

I salute the booers

Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
1 year ago

Perfectly put. What we need NOW and I do mean NOW, not post Independence, is the right to have and to quote our true and accurate nationality. We are as Welsh as the Irish are Irish and the right to THAT nationality was rubber stamped and put beyond question a century ago. Nationality: Welsh on all official documentation such as passports, driving licences (flag Ddraig Goch) etc for all who want it. The current and long standing subjugation of this basic right cannot continue and now at this time of great change IS the time to change it. Those who… Read more »

I.Humphrys
I.Humphrys
1 year ago

William could therefore be a foil to the the plans of Truss and Co.? I hadn’t thought of that.
Let’s face it, who is more popular, Will and Kate, or Truss and Frost. If you think the latter, I have this tin Omega watch to sell you……………….we are small, so we must be smart, folks!

Last edited 1 year ago by I.Humphrys
Richard
Richard
1 year ago

The fact the 25 birthday of Devolution is not celebrated is great 👍🏼

It’s not an issue anymore – apart from a handful of extremist and the EDF etc

Arwyn
Arwyn
1 year ago

Sylwadau teg Ifan. Serch hynny, rhaid parhau i symud ymlaen.

Gareth
Gareth
1 year ago

Carlo can say whatever in any language he desires, but we all know, our future, as it stands today, is held by a right wing neo fascist regime in Downing St, one vote and our democratic gov is gone. We can change this, through the ballot box.

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
1 year ago

History is littered with small movements that end up the dominate view in their country. That is why we should never give up in our push for independence and the belief it could happen very quickly. Events sometimes have a habit of catching us unprepared – this we can not allow to happen here in Cymru. As a nation we must now have a serious talk about our future, what will it look like and how ‘we’ can make it a success. Our children deserve this from us. We have a lot to think about in preparation for independence. Let’s… Read more »

SundanceKid
SundanceKid
1 year ago

A lot of fallacies here.

King Charles raised the history of the Welsh princes, in response to the Llywydd’s remarks about Owain Glyndwr. Charles had to acknowledge that. He was put on the spot.

Secondly, what evidence is there that Charles does not embrace muscular unionism, given his politicking in the last seven days, especially with regards to the Prince of Wales title?

Does the author live on the same planet as the rest of us?

I.Humphrys
I.Humphrys
1 year ago
Reply to  SundanceKid

Ifan’s credentials are solid. Charles text was prepared, and not a response.

SundanceKid
SundanceKid
1 year ago
Reply to  I.Humphrys

I am not questioning his credentials at all, I am questioning his rose tinted views of Charles’ level of respect for Wales.

No doubt, Charles would have been briefed about the history of the Welsh princes (as well as the fact it was Owain Glyndwr Day when he decided to come and visit).

However, the reference to them came after the Llywydd referenced Owain Glyndwr, not before. He needed to say something about his “respect” for Welsh history. He had likely been forewarned to do so, in case someone brought them up.

Last edited 1 year ago by SundanceKid
I.Humphrys
I.Humphrys
1 year ago
Reply to  SundanceKid

You say “Rose Tinted”. But how about smart?

Mawkernewek
1 year ago
Reply to  I.Humphrys

We can see the level of respect that Charles has for Wales in the way he within the mourning period for the Queen, made William a fake Prince of Wales.
Moreover, whatever level of respect for Wales Charles personally has, if the British Establishment turns further to muscular unionism rather than contributionist unionism, there would be little he could do about it within the bounds of being a constitutional monarch.

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
1 year ago

18th September 1997 – one of the most important dates in Wales’ long history. Certainly the consequences for Welsh nationhood dont bear thinking about if the vote had gone the other way. Indeed it would be no exaggeration to say Wales’ very existence as a nation was on the line on that momentous day. And yet – this article from Ifan aside – im struggling to find any reference to it today in what passes for the ‘welsh media’. That should worry us all.

Last edited 1 year ago by Leigh Richards
The original mark
The original mark
1 year ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

While there are groups like abolish, centre for welsh studies and people like rt, finch Saunders and others, Wales very existence will always be on the line, anyone who thinks they’ve gone away will be in for a big shock at the next lot of elections

Maglocunos
Maglocunos
1 year ago

Brilliant pic, Carlo looks like a naughty boy hauled up before the headmaster, whilst Elin looks on in mild disapprobation

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