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The eldest son of the reigning monarch of Great Britain is traditionally invested with the title of Prince of Wales. This tradition began in 1301, when King Edward I of England, having completed the Norman conquest of Wales, gave the title to his heir, Prince Edward (later King Edward II of England). The apocryphal story that the king promised the rebellious Welsh natives "a prince born in Wales, who did not speak a word of English", and then produced his infant son, was not written down until the sixteenth century. However, Edward II certainly was born at Caernarfon, while his father was campaigning in Wales.

Prior to the conquest of Wales, only a handful of native princes had claimed the title of Prince of Wales, the country having been divided into smaller principalities for most of the post-Roman period. In 1258, the title was claimed by Llywelyn the Last, Prince of Gwynedd, having been briefly held by his uncle, Dafydd ap Llywelyn, who was recognised by King Henry III of England as rightful ruler. In 1321, Edward I conquered Wales and granted the Principality to his eldest son, also named Edward. The Principality, nowadays, is always conferred along with the Earldom of Chester. The convention began only in 1399; all previous Princes of Wales also received the earldom, but separately from the Principality. The earldom was created several times before becoming merged in the Crown in 1272. The earldom was recreated, merging in the Crown in 1307 and again in 1327. Its creations since have been associated with the creations of the Principality of Wales, but as aforementioned, the creations of the two dignities were originally separate.

The Principality of Wales and Earldom of Chester must be created, and are not automatically acquired like the Dukedoms of CornwallThe Dukedom of Cornwall was the first dukedom created in the peerage of England. The dukedom remains one of the last in the United Kingdom still associated with an actual duchy (the other is the Duchy of Lancaster). Its income goes to the Duke (or to the and RothesayThe title Duke of Rothesay is the official title possessed by the Heir Apparent to the throne of Scotland. Though a separate Scottish throne no longer exists and has not since the Act of Union 1707 which merged the Kingdoms of Scotland and England to form, which are the Heir Apparent'sAn heir apparent is one who cannot be prevented from inheriting by the birth of any other person. Contrast with heir presumptive. According to the order of succession of many monarchies, the Heir Apparent is a descendant of a monarch who is the heir to th titles in EnglandEngland is the largest, the most populous, and the most densely populated of the four " Home Nations" which make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). Occupying the south-eastern portion of the island of Great Britain, England and ScotlandScotland or in Scottish Gaelic, Alba is a country and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four nations comprising the United Kingdom. Scotland occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland took part in a p, respectively. The dignities are not hereditary, but may be re-created if the Prince of Wales predeceases the King. For example, when Prince Frederick, Prince of Wales predeceased King George IIGeorge II (George Augustus) ( 10 November 1683 25 October 1760) was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg (Hanover) and Archtreasurer and Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death. He was the second, his eldest son, Prince GeorgeGeorge III (George William Frederick) ( 4 June 1738 29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain, and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until 1 January 1801, and thereafter King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. He was c (the future George III) was created Prince of Wales.

Princes of Wales may be invested, but investiture is not necessary to be created Prince of Wales. Peers were also invested, but investitures for peers ceased in 1621, during a time when peerages were being created so frequently that the investiture ceremony became cumbersome. Most investitures for Princes of Wales were held in front of Parliament, but in 1911, the future Edward VIII was invested in Caernarvon Castle in Wales. The present Prince of Wales was also invested there, in 1969. During the reading of the letters patent creating the Principality, the Honours of the Principality of Wales are delivered to the Prince. The coronet of the heir-apparent bears four-crosses pattée alternating with four fleurs-de-lis, surmounted by a single arch (the Sovereign's crowns are of the same design, but use two arches). A gold rod is also used in the insignia; gold rods were formally used in the investitures of dukes, but survive now in the investitures of Princes of Wales only. Also part of the insignia are a ring, a sword and a robe.

The Prince of Wales is styled His Royal Highness (HRH). The same style is given to the Princess of Wales, by virtue of her marriage. However, as was shown in the case of Diana, Princess of Wales, the style lapses if a Prince and Princess divorce, as it is only hers by virtue of marriage to the Prince of Wales, not in her own right.

The holders of the title have been:


Prince of WalesParentFromTo
Edward Edward I13011307 (acceded as Edward II)
Edward, the Black Prince Edward III13301376 (death)
Richard of Bordeaux Edward, the Black Prince13761377 (acceded as Richard II)
Henry of Monmouth Henry IV13991413 (acceded as Henry V)
Edward, Duke of Cornwall Henry VI14531471 (death)
Edward Plantagenet Edward IV14701483 (acceded as Edward V)
Edward, Duke of Cornwall Richard III14831484 (death)
Arthur, Duke of Cornwall Henry VII14861502 (death)
Henry, Duke of Cornwall Henry VII15021509 (acceded as Henry VIII)
Henry, Duke of Cornwall James I16031612 (death)
Charles, Duke of Cornwall James I16121625 (acceded as Charles I)
Charles, Duke of Cornwall Charles I16301649 (acceded as Charles II)
James Francis Edward Stuart James II16881689 (father's deposition)
George Augustus, Duke of Cornwall George I17141727 (acceded as George II)
Frederick Lewis, Duke of Cornwall George II17271751 (death)
George Frederick17511760 (acceded as George III)
George, Duke of Cornwall George III17621820 (acceded as George IV)
HRH Prince Albert Edward Victoria18411901 (acceded as Edward VII)
HRH Prince George, Duke of Cornwall Edward VII19011910 (acceded as George V)
HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Cornwall George V19101936 (acceded as Edward VIII)
HRH Prince Charles, Duke of Cornwall Elizabeth II1958 






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