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What's the point of a Prince of Wales?

(315 Posts)
volver Sun 11-Sept-22 09:42:53

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?

Mollygo Mon 12-Sept-22 21:28:31

volver

You obviously haven't learnt how to use quotation marks.

You obviously haven’t used them often enough for me to pick up your expertise in that Volver dear. I’ve been too busy learning how to be juvenile like you. It’s been much more difficult for me than it obviously was for you.

vegansrock Tue 13-Sept-22 08:02:41

Meow?

Aveline Tue 13-Sept-22 08:45:53

That's just what I was going to say vegansrock ?

Eloethan Fri 16-Sept-22 00:53:58

There is a petition for the Prince of Wales title to be dropped. It seems that a significant number of Welsh people object to an English person being foisted on them - someone who really has no meaningful connection with Wales and who doesn't speak the language. The title is seen by some as a symbol of the previous oppression of Welsh people, who at one time were forbidden to speak their own language.
Having read the petition and the history of how the Welsh prince and his family were done away with, and replaced by an English man, I can understand their position.

Mollygo "I think" means the same as "in my opinion" so you are mistaken in saying some people would take issue with it. -

I think the death of Diana at a young age, and the traumatic manner of her death - along with the fact that she had children and her marriage had been a sham, was bound to elicit more emotional responses. The queen was 96 years old and had enjoyed a very comfortable life so, whilst many people respect that and feel a certain sense of loss, her death was expected.

tickingbird Fri 16-Sept-22 08:11:20

Eloethan

Regarding the Prince of Wales not speaking the language - the majority of the Welsh don’t speak it either!

Anniebach Fri 16-Sept-22 08:16:59

True tickingbird. If William made a speech in Welsh the majority wouldn’t understand him. The majority of those who
could live in North Wales.

Lexisgranny Fri 16-Sept-22 08:36:30

Coincidently I have just been reading that the petition is c25,000. I then looked up the population of Wales - 3.19 million according to ONS in 2022.

MaizieD Fri 16-Sept-22 09:19:02

Setting aside the wider, and more important, question of whether or not the monarchy should even exist, I do find it somewhat disappointing that one of the objections to the Prince of Wales is based on a grievance hundreds of years old.

I know that Wales has been very badly treated by England over the years; as was Ireland, but surely at some time we have to acknowledge the past, apologise or forgive (as applicable), and let it go?

Germanshepherdsmum Fri 16-Sept-22 09:22:13

Some people just love to have a grievance.

volver Fri 16-Sept-22 09:25:34

Some people don't like being regarded as serfs and having their own language ignored.

MaizieD I started this thread because in my view, Wales is being given a Prince with a historical role. Its not the same as (for example) making someone Earl of Inverness. But even that is being questioned now.

Pantglas2 Fri 16-Sept-22 09:27:23

Agreed MaizieD.

Even Dafydd Iwan (of Carlo/Yma o Hyd renown) reckoned that Charles was well intentioned as PoW when he was invited to tea with him at Llwyn-y-Wermod.

I have no issues with William and Katherine representing Wales (regardless of learning Welsh) they’ve already spent more time in North Wales than any political leaders in Cardiff!

Anniebach Fri 16-Sept-22 09:39:57

MaizieD an English Prince of Wales ? It’s deeper than
Llewelyn ap Gruffudd and Owain Glyndwr.

It’s the English coal mine owners, Iron Masters, Slate Quarries.
Flooding of Welsh valleys to supply water to England.

It has always been anti English. Even the Six Nations Rugby,
come Wales v England match it’s referred to by the commentators as - the old enemies

Germanshepherdsmum Fri 16-Sept-22 09:45:25

volver
The Welsh language isn’t ignored, volver. If you’ve been to Wales in recent years you will see that the Welsh language is used above English on road signs, police cars etc.
Who in England regards the Welsh as serfs?

volver Fri 16-Sept-22 09:49:54

I've never been to Wales, that's why I asked what the Welsh think of being given a PoW.

Just call me old fashioned, but "giving" the Welsh a Prince and expecting them all to be happy about it, smacks of feudalism.

tickingbird Fri 16-Sept-22 10:10:30

Nobody regards anyone as serfs. It’s age old grievances being carried onto present day.

As a Jew I could hate Germany and Germans - I don’t. What occurred in The Holocaust is far, far more recent than anything the English did to Scotland, Wales or Ireland. There are people alive today that lived through the horrors of The Holocaust and lost loved ones in terrible circumstances. I wasn’t brought up to hate Germans or Germany and neither were my parents.

The thread running through any discussion on independence is hatred of the English, accompanied by disdain of any countryman/woman not toeing the line. Talk of ‘butcher’s aprons’ a prime example. Anything the English did was a very long time ago. As for feudalism?! Get over it!

volver Fri 16-Sept-22 10:13:37

Are you mixing up Wales and Scotland?

Who mentioned independence?

Methinks you doth protest too much.

tickingbird Fri 16-Sept-22 10:16:44

Methinks you doth protest too much.

I’m not the one protesting!

Pantglas2 Fri 16-Sept-22 10:20:08

No one expects them “all to be happy with it” volver

According to Lexi’s figures there are 25,000 people not - let’s double that for the can’t-be-arsed-to-vote lot and it’s a positively heartbreaking less than 2%!

It’s going to take more than our lifetimes isn’t it?

Chestnut Fri 16-Sept-22 10:35:05

Lexisgranny

Coincidently I have just been reading that the petition is c25,000. I then looked up the population of Wales - 3.19 million according to ONS in 2022.

And how many of them are actually Welsh? Just because someone lives in Wales doesn't make them Welsh. And what about all the Welsh who live outside of Wales? Just wondering who gets to decide whether there should be a Prince of Wales.

volver Fri 16-Sept-22 10:38:56

Pantglas2

No one expects them “all to be happy with it” volver

According to Lexi’s figures there are 25,000 people not - let’s double that for the can’t-be-arsed-to-vote lot and it’s a positively heartbreaking less than 2%!

It’s going to take more than our lifetimes isn’t it?

And yet the 3% of people who turned out in Scotland, many of whom were visitors, mean that Scotland loved the Queen?

Since we're in Shakespeare mode, you're hoist on your own petard.

Mollygo Fri 16-Sept-22 10:42:53

tickingbird

^Methinks you doth protest too much.^

I’m not the one protesting!

No tickingbird you’re not, but Methinks you doth protest too much. is the latest put down from QB. Let it go?.

volver Fri 16-Sept-22 10:44:30

Is that you Elsa?

Bzzz Bzzz...?

Pantglas2 Fri 16-Sept-22 11:00:04

I’d rather be hoist by my own petard than projecting my inferiority complex on an another Celtic nation, suggesting they’re serfs, feudal lackeys whatever....

We’re in the 21st century and I’ve never felt inferior (or superior) to another nationality or needed to either.

You’re anti the Royals - we get it. But some of us aren’t and that’s also fine.

volver Fri 16-Sept-22 11:01:32

Please don't be so insulting. I'm sure the Queen wouldn't have liked it.

Anniebach Fri 16-Sept-22 11:16:43

Agree Pantglas