Wales would benefit by creating a royal palace, says new report
WALES could benefit economically and politically by creating its own royal palace, according to a think-tank report published today.
Gorwel says that could involve either building a new palace from scratch or adapting an existing building.
At present Wales is the only country in the UK not to have a royal palace or residence for the monarch.
There are currently a number in England and Scotland, and one in Northern Ireland.
While the Prince of Wales owns a private residence at Llwynywermod, near Llandovery, there is no palace for the monarch.
The report lists six political reasons why a royal palace could be beneficial for Wales:
■ It would put Wales on an equal footing with the other countries of the UK, all of which have royal palaces which act as major tourist attractions;
■ In the period of Brexit, where the UK and its constituent nations seek to enhance their own identity, a royal palace in Wales with suitable royal events could act as a platform to promote Wales’ distinct identity;
■ Wales is increasingly acting as a national centre for major world events, ranging from sporting events to Nato summits. This means there is a need for an official reception centre for both the Welsh Government and the monarchy: a royal palace could act as this venue;
■ As increased devolution develops Wales as a nation, there is an increasing interaction with the monarchy. Welsh Government Ministers are now officially appointed by the Crown and Welsh Acts are given royal assent in order to become law.
A royal palace in Wales, near the heart of government, would recognise this development and help facilitate this interaction;and
■ It could act as a centre for the considerable number of royal charitable bodies. Just as Buckingham Palace in London and the Palace of Holyrood house also have royal garden parties to recognise various people in civic, business and political life, a palace in Wales could undertake such a role.
In an era when the UK appears to be becoming increasingly fragmented, it could act as a focus by binding the Welsh nation into the union with the other nations in the British Isles.
The report explores the economic case for establishing a royal palace in Cardiff, finding there could be an important boost to the city, bringing in an extra £25m of spending in the city in its first decade of existence.
Describing the case for a newbuild palace, the report says: “[It] would have the advantage of being designed and built to stand out more than existing buildings might.
“This could potentially attract more tourists, as it would be more interesting than a building that had been there for many years already.”
A new building could also be created more quickly than adapting an existing one, the report says.
On the other hand, an older building would be able to attract tourists because of its history.
Cardiff City Hall, Duffryn Gardens in the Vale of Glamorgan, and a number of potential buildings in Cardiff Bay are mooted as possible candidates for conversion into a royal palace.
The report also examines some of the drawbacks to establishing a new palace in Wales, including the potential cost, displacement of tourism from other sites in Wales, resistance from Welsh nationalists and republicans to the presence of the Crown in Wales and it being seen as a symbol of extravagance in a period of austerity.
However, it quotes an opinion poll from 2015, which showed that the monarchy had higher levels of support in Wales than Scotland or the north of England.
The report’s co-author, Professor Russell Deacon, the director of Gorwel, who wrote it with former Gorwel researcher Scott Prosser, said: “The report is not calling for a new royal palace to be built at public expense but merely for the concept of creating one to be explored.
“If it was deemed to be beneficial it would then put Wales on an equal footing with the other capitals of the UK for its royal presence.
“The report gives an economic, cultural and political case for establishing a palace in Wales, for the first time since the Middle Ages.
“We should note that there are also drawbacks, which we also list.
“In the report we found there could be a substantial royal tourism benefit, which is enjoyed by other capitals in the UK, being beneficial for Cardiff and surrounding areas. This should now be considered.”