Bangor, UK:
In his first televised speech, the day after the Queen’s death, King Charles proclaimed Prince William and his wife Catherine the new Prince and Princess of Wales.
The speed of the appointment reflected the crown’s desire to project outward stability and continuity in the wake of Queen Elizabeth’s death. But that was somewhat undermined by the news that Mark Drakeford, the prime minister of Wales, claimed not to have been given advance notice of William’s appointment. Protocol doesn’t dictate this as a necessity, but since William has spoken of his desire to “serve the people of Wales”, this may not have been the best way to start.
Some, such as former Plaid Cymru leader Lord Elis-Thomas, have questioned the need to continue with the title. And a petition to have it taken down had garnered 25,000 signatures in just a few days after it was launched.
These critics call the title disrespectful to Wales in so far as it undermines Wales’ status as a country and nation in itself. To some, its continued use symbolizes the historical oppression associated with Wales as a principality and the English invasion of the country.
“Tywysog Cymru”, or Prince of Wales, is a historic title originally held by native Welsh kings and princes before the 12th century who ruled largely from Gwynedd in north-west Wales. After the conquest of Wales (1277-1283), Edward I moved to consolidate the position of the English crown in Wales and declared his son, known as Edward of Caenarfon, the first English Prince of Wales.
Since then, the title has been awarded to the heir apparent to the English and then British thrones, although not automatically and not always as quickly as King Charles did to Prince William. For example, it was gifted to Charles when he was nine in 1958, some six years after the Queen’s reign began.
Importantly, Charles’ appointment as Prince of Wales predates devolution, the passing of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (and subsequent amendments) and the creation of the Senedd. As a result of these developments, Wales now enjoys considerable political autonomy – which was not the case for most of Charles’ time as Prince of Wales.
William is no doubt aware of this criticism and has said it is an “honour” to serve Wales, and has pledged to do so with “humility and great respect” for his people. Following his conversation with the Prime Minister of Wales after his appointment, bilingual statements to that effect have now been published.
A different approach for a new prince?
There is no constitutional “rulebook” governing the appointment of a Prince of Wales in modern times. The office has no formal public responsibilities established by Parliament or otherwise delegated to William by law or custom.
The title can be seen as a ceremonial gift from the king, with the minimal expectation of supporting the sovereign as a focal point for national pride and unity. So in that sense William has some discretion as the new Prince of Wales to approach his father differently.
Charles has given some signals about his hopes for William, such as when he spoke of others now taking up the issues he is passionate about, presumably involving climate change, youth work and interfaith dialogue. He also said he hoped William and Catherine would “bring the fringe to the center where vital aid can be given”, possibly indicating he wants them to focus on issues of inequality.
However, William has already indicated that he plans to reform the role, including by cutting back on staff and by refocusing and reducing the number of charities his office partners with. While Charles and Camilla have been the presidents or patrons of more than 500 organizations, William and Catherine plan to focus instead on charities that prioritize mental health, children’s early years and the environment.
What about Wales?
Drakeford has said it is now time for William “to get to know Wales better”, and that the prince is “absolutely aware of the sensitivities surrounding the title.”
In keeping with these sentiments, the Welsh could rightly expect William Cymraeg (Welsh) to learn, as his father did at the age of 21, during a nine-week intensive study of Welsh language and history at Aberystwyth University. We can also expect the Prince to establish an official residence in Wales, similar to Charles’s Llwynywermod estate in Llandovery. After all, William and his wife have lived in Angelsey for some time while he served in the RAF.
The new Prince takes office at a time when the political reality of Wales has changed. While the Welsh Government has no formal say in this matter, there should be a debate over the Prince’s relationship with Wales if the title continues after William.
That should also consider whether Wales should play a greater role in the nomination process, perhaps with a view to developing communicative and ceremonial processes with the Senedd, which attest to the country’s modern governance over its own affairs.
While those debates are now beginning to take place, the outcome is unlikely to affect William’s tenure. Nevertheless, the fact that these talks are live – taking place in a country that has historically struggled to be heard within the British Union – is symbolic.
The Prince’s response to finding a job befitting 21st-century Wales shows reverence and willingness to change. This is a powerful example of how the Queen’s death is already leading to thoughtful reflection on what the UK is and what people want it to be in the future, as well as exposing the contours of Wales as a distinct nation.
(Author:Stephen Clear, Lecturer in Constitutional and Administrative Law and Public Procurement, University of Bangor)
Disclosure Statement: Stephen Clear does not work for, consult, own stock in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has not disclosed any relevant affiliations outside of their academic appointment.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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