PASSING ON THE MANTLE

In his first address as King Charles III after his mother died in September 2022, Charles conferred the title of Prince of Wales to his heir, Prince William. He also gave the title of Princess of Wales, last held by his ex-wife, Princess Diana, to his daughter-in-law Kate.

“Today, I am proud to create him William Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty,” he said.

For William, it was an honour. “The prince acknowledged his and the princess’ deep affection for Wales, having made their first family home in Anglesey, including during the earliest months of [their eldest son] Prince George’s life,” Kensington Palace said in a statement.

William and Kate were based in Wales for three years while the prince flew helicopters as a Royal Air Force searchand-rescue pilot.

“The prince and princess will spend the months and years ahead deepening their relationship with communities across Wales,” the palace added.

“They want to do their part to support the aspirations of the Welsh people and to shine a spotlight on both the challenges and opportunities in front of them.”

William reportedly has no plans for an investiture following the controversy in Wales regarding the title. Some experts even believe he might be the last royal to hold it.

“If I was a gambling man, I’d say William will probably be the last Prince of Wales,” says Martin Johnes, professor of history at Swansea University in Wales.

“I imagine that one of the things the monarchy will do in the future is try to lose anything that’s contentious, and Prince of Wales is a contentious title.

“So I suspect that when we see

William become king, he won’t pass that title on. He’ll try to reinvent the monarchy to be something stripped-down, relevant and non-contentious.”