It’s not a big deal for William. Having become Prince of Wales, following his father Charles, the day after Queen Elizabeth II died, William shouldn’t have a grand investiture ceremony. The heir to the throne would not have “any kind” of plans to do so, British media said on Tuesday. Unlike his father, who paid off the title well – he was Prince of Wales for 64 years – and who had been presented with a sumptuous ceremony.
That day, Queen Elizabeth wore one of her amazing hats. Prince Charles floated a little under his crown and in his ermine mantle. On July 1, 1969, she gave a speech in Welsh at Caernarfon Castle, during an impressive ceremony kept secret by the British crown.
“Anachronistic and out of place”
Queen Elizabeth II had placed a crown on his head and Charles had sworn allegiance to his mother, declaring:
“I Charles, Prince of Wales, become your vassal, in life and in death.”
Nearly 20 million Britons watched the event on their television sets and 500 million viewers watched it worldwide.
“I know that for some people it is quite anachronistic and out of place in this world that is a bit cynical,” the 20-year-old prince already said in an interview at the time.
“For me it’s a way of officially dedicating your life or part of your life to Wales,” said Charles, who was Prince of Wales from the age of 10.
Bomb threat and protests
For if Charles had time at Aberystwyth University to study local languages and culture, the ceremony, popular in Wales, nonetheless exacerbated nationalist sentiment, and the investiture drew criticism.
Behind the scenes, in the streets of Caernarfon, law enforcement and army bomb squads were on alert as nationalists tried to blow up the train Charles was to take to the ceremony. The protesters had also waved banners with this inscription written in Welsh: “Charlie go home”, evokes the BBC Extra History site.
The very site of Prince Charles’s inauguration had something to irritate nationalists. The castle, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, houses within its walls the bloody history of England and Wales. It was erected by Edward I, who conquered and annexed the country.
First Visit Examined
The passing of the title to William has reignited resentment in Wales, where some believe the title of Prince of Wales should be bestowed on a Welshman, which hasn’t been the case since 1282. And the idea of such a ceremony doesn’t seem to be very popular. over there. According to a recent Yougov poll, more than a third of Welsh respondents did not want an investiture ceremony and 30% wanted a different ceremony than his father’s in 1969.
And while no one expected William to speak Welsh, his first official visit to the region as Prince of Wales on Tuesday was scrutinized by the British media.
“They are currently working to deepen over time the relationship of trust and respect they have with the Welsh people,” said a spokesman for the couple, who lived on Anglesey, a Welsh island, during William’s service as a helicopter pilot. in the Royal Air Force. And if Kate and William have won the hearts of the British in recent years, with their perfect communication skills, they will have to win the appreciation of the Welsh.
Source: BFM TV
