Prince William's Investiture As Prince Of Wales: A Historic Event

Prince William will not have an official investiture to become the Prince of Wales and is instead planning a different coronation to that of his father. The Prince is said to want a very different coronation following the historic event which was watched by more than 20 million people in the UK when his father officially became King. William was bestowed the title of Prince of Wales following the death of his grandmother in September 2022. He has said himself that there were no plans for a formal ceremony.

Prince William will not have an investiture ceremony

Prince William, the eldest son of King Charles III, was made the Prince of Wales in 2022. However, it has been confirmed that there are no plans for a formal investiture ceremony, which marks a break in tradition.

The investiture of the Prince of Wales is a ceremony that formally acknowledges the new Prince of Wales. It is purely ceremonial, as the title is conferred via letters patent issued by the monarch. In the past, the prince has been presented with the insignia of his rank and dignity, such as the sword, coronet, ring, rod, and mantle.

The decision to forgo an investiture ceremony is likely influenced by the controversy surrounding the title in Wales. The title of Prince of Wales has been viewed as controversial, with some suggesting that there should have been consultation with the people of Wales before the title was bestowed on William. There have been calls to end the use of the title, with a petition gaining nearly 20,000 signatures.

Instead of an investiture, Prince William and his wife, Princess Kate, are focused on "deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales." They have expressed their deep affection for Wales, having made their first family home in Anglesey. They plan to spend more time in Wales, strengthening their relationship with communities across the country.

William's decision to forgo an investiture may also be indicative of his intention to continue breaking with tradition as the heir to the throne. He is reportedly planning a different coronation from his father's, aiming for a modern and relevant ceremony.

The Prince of Wales title is controversial

The title of Prince of Wales is steeped in history, but it is also steeped in controversy. The title has been given to the heirs of the British throne for centuries, but its roots lie in the tragic killing of the last Welsh Prince of Wales, Dafydd ap Gruffydd, in 1283. Gruffydd was killed on the orders of Edward I of England, who then bestowed the title on his son, the future Edward II, in 1301.

The title has since been conferred by English and later British monarchs on their heirs, but there have been long periods when it fell out of use. The history of Wales's relationship with England helps to explain the strong feelings surrounding the title. For many in Wales, the title is a "thorn in our nation", reminding them that Wales is "owned by the regime rather than [consisting of] citizens of our country".

The dispute is not just historical, however. When the most recent holder of the title, now King Charles III, was officially invested with the title at Caernarfon Castle in 1969, there were violent protests and even a bomb plot coordinated by a Welsh paramilitary group.

The decision to make Prince William the next Prince of Wales has also sparked controversy. A petition to scrap the title gathered over 35,000 signatures, and Gwynedd Council in North Wales has also voted to express its opposition to the title. The petition argues that the title has "been held exclusively by Englishmen as a symbol of dominance over Wales" and that it "remains an insult to Wales and is a symbol of historical oppression". It also claims that the title undermines Wales's "status as a nation and a country", and that it has no constitutional role now that Wales is a devolved country with its own national Parliament.

Despite the controversy, a YouGov poll found that 66% of respondents supported the title being given to William, and 74% felt that he would do a good job.

William will automatically become the Duke of Cornwall and the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland when his father ascends the throne

The title of Prince of Wales is not automatically given to the heir of the throne. It is up to the current monarch to bestow the title upon their chosen heir. However, when Prince William's father, King Charles III, ascended the throne on 8 September 2022, William automatically became the Duke of Cornwall and the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland.

The Duke of Rothesay is the title mandated for use by the heir apparent when in Scotland, in preference to the titles Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, which are used in the rest of the United Kingdom and overseas. The title dates back to 1398 when Robert III of Scotland created the dukedom for his eldest son. The Duke of Rothesay also holds other Scottish titles, including Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.

William's wife, Catherine, is now the Duchess of Rothesay and Cornwall. William was made Duke of Cambridge immediately before his wedding in April 2011. He became Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay upon his father's accession to the throne and was made Prince of Wales the following day.

The investiture of the Prince of Wales is the ceremony formally acknowledging a new Prince of Wales. The prince is presented and invested with the insignia of his rank and dignity, in the manner of a coronation. An investiture is purely ceremonial. In the 1969 ceremony, Queen Elizabeth II gave Charles the symbols that marked him as Prince of Wales: the sword, coronet, ring, rod, and mantle.

William's coronation will be modern and unifying

Prince William's coronation will be a break from tradition, with the prince opting for a modern and unifying ceremony. While the date is yet to be determined, royal sources have confirmed that the crowning ceremony will reflect Prince William's ongoing mission to be "relevant" and modern.

William's decision not to have an official investiture as Prince of Wales signals a departure from tradition. Unlike his father, who was "crowned" by Queen Elizabeth at Caernarfon Castle, William has stated that there are no plans for a formal ceremony. This choice may be indicative of how William will continue to break with tradition as heir to the throne.

The coronation of King Charles III, which took place at Westminster Abbey, incorporated some modern elements. However, William was the only member of the royal family who participated in the "homage of the people," where he knelt before his father, touched his crown, kissed him on the cheek, and vowed to be his "liege man of life and limb." William is expected to omit this element from his coronation, which caused some controversy during King Charles' service.

According to sources, William is keenly considering how to make his coronation relevant and unifying for the nation and the Commonwealth. This aligns with his broader thinking and actions, as he constantly seeks to modernize the monarchy and increase its relevance in the 21st century. William and his wife, Kate Middleton, have already set themselves apart in their royal roles, adopting fewer but more meaningful causes that they can champion over the long term.

The specifics of William's coronation plans remain largely unknown, but it is clear that he intends to put his unique stamp on the ceremony, ensuring it is both modern and unifying.

The Prince of Wales title is not automatically given to the heir

The title of Prince of Wales is not automatically given to the heir to the throne. While it is traditionally bestowed on the heir, it is not a right, and the decision ultimately lies with the monarch.

The title originated with the Welsh rulers of Gwynedd in the 12th century, who used it to assert their supremacy over other Welsh rulers. In 1301, Edward I of England invested his son Edward of Caernarfon with the title to mark the finalisation of his conquest of Wales. This began the tradition of giving the title to the heir apparent when he was the monarch's son or grandson.

The current Prince of Wales, William, was bestowed the title by his father, King Charles III, on 9 September 2022, the day after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. This was a surprise to Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, who said he had not been given notice of the announcement.

William's investiture as Prince of Wales also breaks with tradition as there are no plans for a formal ceremony. This is a notable departure from the lavish investiture ceremonies of his predecessors, which took place in Caernarfon Castle, Wales. William's decision to forgo a formal investiture may signal how he intends to continue breaking with tradition as heir to the throne.

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