Get history straight, we’re a strong team

AT a time when the British and Irish Lions have completed a brilliant Test series against the world champions it ill befits Clem Thomas (Western Mail, July 7) to try to resurrect tribal differences based on flaky history.

For example, he claims “the same family” as today’s Queen murdered the real Prince of Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, in 1282. Not quite. He was killed in battle at Orewin Bridge and the Royal Family in 1282 was Plantagenet.

The current House of Windsor (originally Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) began in 1917 and there were three other royal families from 1282 until 1917, including the Welsh Tudor family.

Wales was incorporated into England by the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284.

In the Laws in Wales Acts 1535– 1542, Wales became legally part of the Kingdom of England. In 1603 James VI of Scotland became James 1st King of England (including Wales). In October 1604, one year later, he decreed that the Royal Title would use the term Great Brittaine to refer to the “one Imperiall Crowne” made up of England and Scotland. None of this had anything to do with “grabbing lands in America or stealing Celtic traditions of early cross-Atlantic travel”. Celts? Who? When? Vikings were not Celts.

Finally, he attacks Great Britain for past injustices. If he looks at the G7 countries who attended the Hamburg meeting he will not find one country without something to regret in its history.

The lesson of the 2017 Lions is clear: we are stronger together. Keith Townrow Bridgend