Victoria Arbiter: The history behind Prince Charles' latest milestone

By Victoria Arbiter|


In her new weekly column for 9Honey, Victoria will shed light on the monarchy's movements - this week, she gives us the history behind Prince Charles' latest milestone.

The British Monarchy has been around for over a thousand years and in many ways it represents a living history, one we are fortunate enough to witness. 

Whether it’s the Queen becoming Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, the release of a portrait showing her pictured with three kings-in-waiting, or the first bi-racial woman to marry into the royal family, each year brings with it momentous milestones, record-breaking achievements and historic occasions. 

The last few months have been littered with royal coverage touting broken protocols, royal fashion faux-pas and the dos and don’ts of royal baby showers, but there’s an important anniversary on the horizon, and it’s one more than worthy of a mention.

The royals were out in force for Prince Charles' investiture anniversary. (PA/AAP)

Last Tuesday, the Queen hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace marking the 50th Anniversary of the Investiture of the Prince of Wales. 

Attended by Charles and Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Princess Anne, the event celebrated a broad range of Welsh charities, organisations and businesses and brought together an array of leading figures from Welsh public life. 

The Archbishop of Canterbury delivered a speech, and the Investiture Regalia, including the Investiture Coronet, Sword, Ring and Rod, all worn by Prince Charles in 1969 were on display. The late morning reception was a typically low-key affair, but it allowed for those present to pay tribute to Charles’ years of service to Wales, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

LISTEN: Take a deep dive into Prince Charles' life with 9Honey's royal podcast The Windsors. (Post continues.)

Prince Charles was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on 26 July, 1958, but his investiture didn’t take place until 1 July, 1969 by which time he was 20. The Queen had deliberately waited for her son to be of an age at which he could fully appreciate the significance of the ceremony. 

Before the Investiture, Charles spent a term at the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth, where he learned to speak Welsh and studied Welsh culture and history. 

The televised ceremony held at Caernarfon Castle in Wales was viewed by millions around the world including 19 million in the UK alone. Four thousand guests watched from the castle while another 90,000 spectators lined the streets of Caernarfon.

Prince Charles is crowned Prince of Wales by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. (Getty)

In a pomp-filled ceremony designed by Lord Snowdon, Princess Margaret’s husband, a nervous Prince Charles knelt before his mother, the Queen, as she presented him with the insignia of office and crowned him Prince of Wales. 

Charles then declared, “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.”

Today Charles is the longest-serving Prince of Wales in British history. 

On 9 September 2017 he surpassed the record previously held by his great-great-grandfather, King Edward VII. The then Albert Edward was created Prince of Wales on 8 December, 1841 when he was just one month old. He acceded to the throne as Edward VII on 22 January, 1901 having served as Prince of Wales for 59 years, one month and 14 days. 

Charles was nine when he was created Prince of Wales, meaning he has now held the title for over 61 years. The title is not, as widely believed, automatically inherited. The reigning monarch has to create it each time. 

Before becoming King Edward VII in 1901, Albert Edward was the previous longest-serving Prince of Wales. (Getty)

Once Charles becomes king, it will be up to him to proclaim his son, Prince William, the next Prince of Wales, making him the 22nd prince in the current line to hold the title.

From the 12th century on, the Prince of Wales title was granted to princes born in Wales. In 1282, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, one of the last Welsh princes, was killed in battle by soldiers fighting for Edward I, then King of England. He was the only Welsh ruler to be officially recognised by the English as Prince of Wales, but within a year of his death Wales fell completely under English rule. 

In 1301 Edward invested his son, Edward of Caernarfon, the future King Edward II, as Prince of Wales making him the first English Prince of Wales and marking the first time the eldest son of the King of England had been bestowed the title. 

It will be up to Prince Charles to proclaim son Prince William the next Prince of Wales upon his ascension to the throne. (AP/AAP)

Only one native Welshman, Owain Glyndwr, has held the title since. During the Welsh revolt against Henry IV of England in 1400, Owain’s supporters proclaimed him Prince of Wales. He’s believed to have died in 1421.

As Britain’s longest-serving heir apparent, Charles’ reign as King Charles III will, in all probability, be a short one. 

He will have little chance of breaking any of the records set by his mother, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, but thanks to his tenure as Prince of Wales, Charles has achieved his own record, one unlikely ever to be broken. 

The public has long been consumed with all the minutiae of royal life, but the monarchy is so much more than shutting its own car doors and soap opera style headlines.  It’s in its rich and vibrant history that the majesty truly lies.

Money News: Aussies Hit With Unexpected Expenses-