The Investiture Question: When Will Prince William Receive His Official Title?

There are no plans for Prince William to have an investiture as Prince of Wales, according to Kensington Palace. The decision not to hold a lavish and formal ceremony is likely to be seen as a sensible move to ensure the monarchy remains relatable and relevant, especially during a cost-of-living crisis. Instead of an investiture, William is said to be focused on deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales over time.

Prince William's investiture as Prince of Wales will not take the form of a grand ceremony

Prince William, the eldest son of King Charles III, was made Prince of Wales on 9 September 2022. However, it has been made clear that there are no plans for a grand investiture ceremony to mark his new role, as was the case with his father, King Charles, in 1969.

The investiture of the Prince of Wales is a ceremony formally acknowledging the new Prince of Wales. The prince is presented and invested with the insignia of his rank and dignity, such as the sword, coronet, ring, rod, and mantle, in the manner of a coronation. It is purely ceremonial, as the title is formally conferred via letters patent issued by the monarch.

In the case of Prince William, there has been a conscious decision to forgo a formal and lavish investiture ceremony. Instead, the Prince and Princess of Wales are focused on "deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales" over time. This decision is likely a strategic move to ensure the monarchy remains relatable and relevant, especially considering the cost-of-living crisis currently impacting many in the UK.

While there will not be a grand ceremony, it is worth noting that the title of Prince of Wales is usually given to the heir apparent of the British throne. Therefore, Prince William's new title signifies his position as the heir to the throne.

William's decision to forgo a formal investiture is a break from tradition

Prince William's decision to forgo a formal investiture is a break from tradition. The eldest son of Prince Charles, William is widely expected to be the next Prince of Wales, a title bestowed upon him by his father, King Charles III, shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Traditionally, the heir to the throne holds the title of Prince of Wales. In 1969, Queen Elizabeth II formally invested her son, Prince Charles, with the Coronet of the Prince of Wales during a grand investiture ceremony at Caernarfon Castle. The event was attended by 4,000 guests and watched by 19 million people in the UK and 500 million worldwide.

However, William has chosen not to follow in his father's footsteps and has no plans for an investiture ceremony, according to Kensington Palace. This decision is seen as a way to deepen the trust and respect of the people of Wales and ensure the monarchy remains relatable and relevant during a time of economic hardship.

Instead of a formal investiture, William is focused on building stronger relationships with communities in Wales and across the UK. He and his wife, Kate, the Princess of Wales, have expressed their deep affection for Wales, having made their first family home in Anglesey. They plan to spend more time in the country and take a long-term approach to strengthening their connections.

William's decision to forgo a formal investiture is also influenced by the political controversy surrounding the title of Prince of Wales and the cost-of-living crisis. By breaking with tradition, William aims to create a more modern and unifying monarchy that is sensitive to the needs and sentiments of the people.

The Prince of Wales title is controversial in Wales

The title of Prince of Wales is steeped in history and tradition, but it has also become a point of controversy in Wales. The title is given to the male heir apparent to the English and British thrones. While the title started in Wales, it has been associated with English rule and dominance over Wales.

The title originated with the Welsh rulers of Gwynedd in the late 12th century, who used it to assert their supremacy over other Welsh rulers. However, in 1301, Edward I of England began the tradition of granting the title to the heir apparent to the English throne when he invested his son, Edward of Caernarfon, with the title to mark the finalisation of his conquest of Wales. This act symbolised the subjugation of Wales to English rule, and the title has since been held by the eldest sons of most English and British monarchs.

The last native Welsh Prince of Wales, Dafydd ap Gruffydd, was brutally killed in 1283 on the orders of Edward I, adding to the title's controversial history. The investiture of Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales in 1969 also sparked protests in Wales, with an outspoken section of Welsh people considering him an English prince imposed upon Wales.

The title's association with English rule and historical oppression of Wales has led to criticism and calls for its abolition. Critics argue that the title fails to respect Wales as a country in its own right and instead reinforces the historical invasion and oppression of Wales by England.

However, the debate is not solely focused on abolition. Some suggest adapting the title to reflect the changing constitutional relationship between Wales and the rest of the UK. This includes exploring the potential for the Welsh Government to play a greater role in the appointments process or for a Senedd ceremonial process to acknowledge Wales's governance over its affairs.

While there are no plans for a formal investiture ceremony for Prince William as the current Prince of Wales, the controversy surrounding the title in Wales remains a significant issue.

William's father, King Charles III, was officially invested at Caernarfon Castle

On the 1st of July 1969, William's father, King Charles III, was officially invested as the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle in north Wales. The ceremony was held to formally present the title of Prince of Wales to the 20-year-old Charles, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II. It was a revival of a ceremony first used for the previous Prince of Wales, Edward (Charles's great-uncle), in 1911.

Caernarfon Castle holds a significant place in the history of the "Prince of Wales" title. In 1284, Edward I of England gave his son Edward of Caernarfon the title "Prince of Wales," possibly as a deliberate statement to the recently conquered Welsh, as Edward had been born in Caernarfon Castle. The castle was also the birthplace of the first English Prince of Wales, the future King Edward II, in the same year.

The 1969 investiture of Charles was a grand affair, watched by 500 million people worldwide on television. The event was organised by a specially established Investiture Committee, chaired by the earl marshal, Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, the 16th Duke of Norfolk. With a growing national consciousness in Wales at the time, the ceremony aimed to celebrate Welsh pride and the British monarchy.

Charles's uncle, Lord Snowdon, a professional photographer, arranged the ceremony to be television-friendly. It took place on a circular slate dais, shielded by a large modern canopy of perspex, allowing the audience and television cameras a clear view. Prior to the investiture, a procession of dignitaries and guests, including representatives of Welsh youth, members of the House of Lords, members of the Gorsedd and the National Eisteddfod Court, local government officials, church representatives, and the prime minister, paraded through the town and entered the castle.

During the ceremony, Charles knelt on a scarlet cushion in front of an invited audience of 4,000 people inside the castle. The secretary of state for Wales read the Letters Patent in Welsh as the Queen presented Charles with a golden rod, a mantle, a sword, a girdle, the new coronet, and a ring. Charles then took an oath, pledging:

> "I, Charles, Prince of Wales, do become your liege man of life and limb and of earthly worship and faith and truth I will bear unto thee to live and die against all manner of folks."

After the ceremony, Charles kissed his mother on the cheek and greeted the crowds from the balcony of the Queen's Gate. He later sat on a throne, flanked by the Queen and his father, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The 1969 investiture of Charles as Prince of Wales was not without controversy. It faced fierce opposition from Welsh nationalists, who saw the title as symbolic of Wales's occupation by the English crown. Protests and tensions leading up to the event resulted in a heavy security presence, with many soldiers, detectives, and agents deployed to ensure the ceremony proceeded smoothly. Despite the opposition, opinion polls at the time showed that around three-quarters of Welsh speakers supported the ceremony.

William's coronation will be modern and different from his father's

While there are no plans for Prince William to have an investiture as Prince of Wales, sources suggest that his coronation will be modern and different from his father's.

Prince William, now the Prince of Wales, is said to want his coronation ceremony to "look and feel different" from his father's two-hour service at Westminster Abbey. A source close to the Prince stated that he wants the ceremony to feel "modern" and "relevant".

One notable difference is that William is likely to leave out the "homage of the people" that was included in King Charles' service. This element caused some controversy as it invited people inside and outside the Abbey to pay respect to the King and his "heirs and successors".

Another difference is that William will not be "'crowned'" by his mother, Queen Elizabeth, as his father was. Instead of a grand investiture, William is said to be focused on deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales over time. This decision is seen as a shrewd move to ensure the monarchy remains relatable and relevant, especially during a time of economic hardship for many in the UK.

William and his wife, Kate, are known for wanting to set themselves apart in their royal roles. They adopt fewer but more meaningful causes that they can champion over a long period. They also utilize "community impact days", where they head to a town or city in Britain and champion a local social enterprise or charity.

While there is no "grand plan" for William's coronation at this stage, it is clear that he and his team are reflective about the recent ceremony and are committed to making it "extremely important to him that it evolves to be relevant whenever it happens."

Frequently asked questions