No plans for William to have formal investiture ceremony as Prince of Wales

There are no plans for Prince William to receive a formal investiture ceremony as Prince of Wales like the one his father had, it has emerged.

Instead, it is understood that the Prince and Princess of Wales will focus on deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales.

The development comes as the royal couple make their first official visit to Wales in their new roles.

The King was Prince of Wales for 64 years and was officially invested in 1969 by the Queen and formally presented to the Welsh people as their prince.

During the ceremony, the Queen placed a coronet on Charles’s head and helped arrange robes around his shoulders, and he pledged allegiance to his mother with the words: “I, Charles, Prince of Wales, do become your liege man of life and limb.”

After the death of the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales took up their new titles, with Prince William now heir to the throne.

During their visit to Wales, the couple were due to visit Anglesey, where they made their first home as newlyweds, and then go on to Swansea.

A royal source said after the Queen’s death: “The new Princess of Wales appreciates the history associated with this role but will understandably want to look to the future as she creates her own path.”

Wales is also where the couple raised their eldest child, Prince George, for the first few months of his life.

A few days after the Queen’s death, Prince William told Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, of his “deep affection for Wales” in a telephone call.

Back in business – but cautiously

Laura Bundock

Royal correspondent

@laurabundock

As their mourning period ends, the royal family is back in business: First off the mark, the Prince and Princess of Wales.

They have new titles, but this is familiar territory for the couple – Anglesey was their home for three years as newly-weds, and it was where they raised a baby Prince George during his first months.

Little surprise, they’ve spoken of a “deep affection” for Wales, and enjoyed the “warmth and kindness” of the Welsh people on previous visits. And there certainly was a warm welcome from the gathered crowds today.

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world, they’re our Prince and Princess and this means a lot.” one well-wisher said.”

But the couple will also be aware, there are those in Wales less appreciative and accepting of their new role – more than 35,000 have signed a petition calling for an end to the Prince of Wales title.

With this in mind, their work in Wales will have to be carefully managed and cautiously chosen.
A spokesperson said they want to “serve with humility and great respect”.

Don’t expect a grand investiture like the 1969 televised showstopper of the then Prince Charles: It’s been made clear there are “no plans of any kind” for a repeat of that ceremony.

If it does happen, it will be years away, I understand.

Instead, the Prince and Princess of Wales want to build the “trust and respect” of the Welsh people.

They will though have a prominent part to play as the royal family starts this new chapter.

As flags at royal residences are once more raised to full mast, another era begins: The new King has a new cypher, and although its rollout will be gradual, letters are leaving Buckingham Palace franked with his stamp.

There are already visible signs, Charles the Third is starting to make his mark as monarch.

The King gave a speech in English and Welsh when he addressed the Senedd during his first visit to Wales as monarch.

The couple’s last official visit to Wales was in June when they were Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. They travelled to Cardiff Castle, where rehearsals were taking place for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert.

They will now make more regular visits to Wales in their new roles, and are expected back in the country before Christmas.

No plans for William to have formal investiture ceremony as Prince of Wales

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