What's the point of a Prince of Wales?

Franbern

Farzanah

Perhaps Owain Glyndwr will rise once more to defend Wales from the threat of the English Prince.

The last welsh Prince of Wales. A visit to his parliament building is well worth while. Amazing how many of his plans for Wales (before the English killed him), are now realised.

Amazing how many of his plans for Wales (before the English killed him), are now realised.

Well there we are then!

No need for his ghost to rise up and defend us after all.
????????

volver

^It’s only ‘a problem’ if you see it as one though volver, isn’t it?^

People don't mind having someone imposed on them because he's a nice bloke? That's OK until it's not a nice bloke.

It's really not all about money, either.

And there we have it, unfortunately that is exactly the reality. The mistake is thinking that people all think as deeply about things as we do, and form their opinions based on facts, when they actually don’t, and won’t, however much information is provided.

Our esteemed ex PM is a case in point.

It is a part of a whole. What is the point of any of it, you may ask? But either you do, or you don't.

Were people in York asked if they wanted the Duke of York, of those in Sussex, etc? It's a historical package, and as Aveline says- 'just words' ... There is no picking and choosing.

Incidentally if the Queen's cortege had gone by the end of my road, I would have turned out to see it. (It didn't) That doesn't make me invested in the monarchy, just interested in observing historical events.
And why not?
My staunch Methodist grandma who was staying with us for 6 months, asked to be taken to watch the Pope go past in his popemobile.

I don't think William is going to take up residence in Cardiff and rule over us with an iron fist.

If he supports Welsh interests, charities and sport (already he is the patron of Welsh Rugby) it gives all these a higher profile, highlights the needs of charities and of social problems.
Some may not like it but that is how it works.

Its a problem because so many folk are too invested in lives that they have no control over or involvement in.You just have to look at posts on here from supposedly mature intelligent? women foaming at the mouth because Meghan or Harry said something and Kate is an angel incarnate ...lot of nonsense .
Maybe they need to get lives of their own.These poeple dont know who you are and care even less
its all a PR fantasy ,an archaic institution that really should have gone a long time ago .
Now we have a "King" who has done dodgy dealings with middle eastern princes ,had a peadophile ..or 2 as friends and was an adulterer.
What a great example to young folk he is..but at least unlike his ancestors he didn't chop his wife's head off or start a new religion so he could dump her .So alls well with Charles 111 ?

Some may not like it but that is how it works

The question, of course, is should it?

But Paddyanne there are also lots of people overly invested in what goes on in the RF simply in order to disapprove of it or criticise those who want to be ‘invested in it’, a bit like admiring a film star or a footballer or raving over a TV series.
I wonder if those so invested in repeatedly expressing disapproval or criticism of the RF get as much enjoyment out of that as those who are invested in enjoying hearing about the RF?

paddyann it comes back to the same thing. You think ‘it’s a problem’, but you aren’t able to influence those who don’t. You can only get a message through to people who are receptive to listening.

AGAA4

Crikey! That's dispiriting Farzanah. True though.

Yes, dispiriting and true.

Mollygo

But Paddyanne there are also lots of people overly invested in what goes on in the RF simply in order to disapprove of it or criticise those who want to be ‘invested in it’, a bit like admiring a film star or a footballer or raving over a TV series.
I wonder if those so invested in repeatedly expressing disapproval or criticism of the RF get as much enjoyment out of that as those who are invested in enjoying hearing about the RF?

I don't enjoy criticising the RF, or anybody else for that matter.

The fact that you think its as simple as that is the problem; we are elevating people to be HoS or hangers-on to the HoS based purely on who their grandpa was. The purpose of a HoS isn't to give us enjoyment, its to carry out the duties of the HoS.

I've been wondering why it is that people are so invested in our late Queen. I think its that she made people feel good. Whether you are President of the US or a 5 year old with a bunch of flowers for her, her very presence was enough to make you happy. I'm not criticising that, but I don't need somebody in a palace to make me feel good. I want somebody as HoS who can actually make the country a better place.

Now, having a happy populace is a contributor to that, but for me, its not enough. Supporters of the RF often seem to regard republicans as churlish money-obsessed oafs with no sense of gratitude for what the sainted RF do for us.

And as we keep saying, that's my opinion and I'm entitled to it

It amazes me how easily many people fall for the relentless PR campaigns on behalf of the heirs to the throne. The last 5 years have been a never ending praise campaign for the Cambridge's, Charles and particularly Camilla in order to prime the country to accept without question ,their suitability to rule over us all.
Judging by the comments on GN, they seem to have achieved that aim.

We aren’t elevating anybody. I have nothing to do with it and their position existed before I was born.
Elevating footballers, film stars, ‘celebrities’ who appear out of nowhere and get paid immense sums which directly affect me (cost of attending football matches with DGS, or paying vastly inflated prices to take family to the cinema, or seeing my licence fee going to fund ‘celebrities) worries me far more.

I don’t get the ‘rule over us all’ phrase, Normandy Girl. Exactly how does the RF rule over us all? Do explain that please.
Now if you’re talking about Vladimir Putin ruling over Russia or even our “wonderful government” ruling over us, that would make more sense.

We aren’t elevating anybody.

Do you understand what elevating means? Guess not.

"We" are the state, the country, the nations who allow this to happen. I'm learning that some just accept the status quo because we've always done it that way, and some think we have agency. You have a choice about going to see football matches or to the cinema, or even watching TV. You don't have a choice about our head of state. That's the point.

Supporters of the RF often seem to regard republicans as churlish money-obsessed oafs
Perhaps because that is how they often appear to present themselves. Not everyone is as reasoned and reasonable as you, volver

What an inappropriate comment at this sad time .

I'm half Welsh .

I happen to have been brought up in England .

My cousins are all Welsh speaking and totally pro Royal family .

What an inappropriate comment at this sad time .

Which one, Esmay?

volver

I believe the Prince of Wales is basically the top bod in the hierarchy in Wales and has been an Englishman since the 14th Century. I understand it is an expression of the rule of the English over the Welsh.

I have googled the role of the Prince and Princess of Wales and it appears to be to visit as many places in the country as possible and learn to speak Welsh. Personally I find the conferring of titles such as this on Royals a patronising anachronism, having once had to explain to a French person that the Duke of Edinburgh didn't really run Edinburgh.

What do Welsh people think about the whole thing?

As for the Duke of Edinburgh, the late Queen was actually the Duchess of Edinburgh before she took the throne and they did live up there for some time.

They did not.

To answer volver’s original question, here is what Mark Drakeford had to say.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62875386
Mark Drakeford is a known republican, but he’s also wise enough not to think he can personally influence the public - it’s very much a case of what will be will be - it will be down to William I suspect, and if he lives up to his promise to spend time here and support Welsh causes he is likely to be welcomed. Speaking Welsh already is a definite plus, I think all Welsh people still remember John Redwood when he was Secretary of State for Wales pretending to sing the national anthem!

Callistemon -
What's the point of the Prince of Wales ?

I'm sorry Esmay but it is an entirely relevant comment.

I have been scrupulously careful not to disrespect the late Queen in any way. Because that would be inappropriate and uncalled for. However it is entirely relevant to ask how a role is meant to be filled.

And please note I asked What it the point of a Prince of Wales, not What is the point of the Prince of Wales. That's a completely different question which I did not ask.

Can you imagine the uproar if King Charles had announced, without discussion or debate, that his brother Prince Andrew was to be made prince of N Ireland and his brother Prince Edward was to be prince of Scotland? Set aside the idea of which brother or whether maybe it would be Prince George, or Princess Charlotte or Prince Louis. The implication would be that these places were Principalities, subject to English rule, rather than countries in their own right, all part of a United Kingdom. I like Prince William, and Catherine too but they don’t have to be demi monarchs of Wales. Wales is a country, not a principality. We in Wales have no more need of a Prince than the Scots or the Irish. Its time the empty title was dropped.

Thegrandmarniter

Can you imagine the uproar if King Charles had announced, without discussion or debate, that his brother Prince Andrew was to be made prince of N Ireland and his brother Prince Edward was to be prince of Scotland? Set aside the idea of which brother or whether maybe it would be Prince George, or Princess Charlotte or Prince Louis. The implication would be that these places were Principalities, subject to English rule, rather than countries in their own right, all part of a United Kingdom. I like Prince William, and Catherine too but they don’t have to be demi monarchs of Wales. Wales is a country, not a principality. We in Wales have no more need of a Prince than the Scots or the Irish. Its time the empty title was dropped.

That scenario would be completely different though Thegrandmarniter because those titles don’t exist. There’s been a Prince of Wales since 1301. You can’t make sweeping statements about what the people of Wales want - you’re one of them, so am I, but we are individuals not mouthpieces of the nation. I think Mark Drakeford is playing it right.

Elevating. My understanding of it is as accurate as yours Volver.