When Prince Charles was preparing
to for his investiture as the Prince of Wales in 1969, it was decided that he
needed to get to know Wales, its people, its culture, and most importantly its
language. It may sound obvious—after all the Queen’s eldest child was
about to be invested as the country’s prince—but it was actually quite
revolutionary.
Princes of Wales are not
usually known for their knowledge of the principality, and historically the
title is about deference to England rather than the power of Wales.
Despite the wealth of
traditions, there is no automatic succession to the title, so a male Heir
Apparent has to be created Prince of Wales by the Sovereign. However, if
Prince Charles does become King, it is highly likely that Prince William will
become Prince of Wales and Catherine made Princess of Wales, the title famously
held by William’s mother Diana.
Charles remembers the day as a
tremendously important one. “For me, by far the most moving and meaningful
moment came when I put my hands between Mummy’s and swore to be her liege man
of life and limb and to live and die against all manner of folks—such
magnificent medieval, appropriate words, even if they were never adhered to in
those old days,” he said afterwards.
