February 6, 2023
In his Accession Speech on September 9, 2022, King Charles III announced he was creating his elder son, William, the Duke of Cornwall, as Prince of Wales & Earl of Chester. "Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty. With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations."
It is usual for the official Letters Patent that creates the titles Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester for the heir apparent to be published in the London Gazette. As of today, no there has been no official announcement.
The London Gazette was first published in 1665. The first Prince of Wales born after this date was James Francis Edward, the eldest son of James II and his second wife, Maria Beatrice of Modena. The prince was born on June 10, 1688, and was named Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester circa July 4, 1688. The Gazette references the birth of the prince and the use of the title Prince of Wales, but not an official announcement, such as a Letters Patent.
James II had other things on his mind. There were questions about the birth of the Prince, who was baptized in the Roman Catholic faith. There was a genuine fear of a Catholic dynasty.
Three years earlier, the king had suspended the Parliaments of England and Scotland, further alienating the Protestant majority. The birth of the prince and the charge of seditious libel against seven Protestant bishops (who were acquitted) led to anti-Catholic riots. James II's reign was near collapse after religious leaders, politicians and soldiers called for the Prince of Orange to take military action to save the Protestant faith. Prince William was married to James II's elder daughter, Princess Mary (by his first wife, Anne Hyde.) William was also James II's nephew as his mother, Mary, was James's sister.
By the end of December 1688, James II with his wife and infant son fled to France, allowing for the Convention Parliament, which met in January 1689, to declare that James II had abdicated and the throne would be offered jointly to the Prince and Princess of Orange, who would reign as King William III and Queen Mary.
The next Prince of Wales was Prince George Augustus, the son of King George I, who succeeded his second cousin, Queen Anne in 1714. He was named Prince of Wales And Earl of Chester on September 27, 1714.
[James I - Elizabeth - Sophie - George I. James I - Charles I - James II - Anne.]
King George I died on June 11, 1727. He was succeeded by his son, King George II, who named his eldest son, Prince Frederick Louis as Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on January 27, 1728.
The Prince of Wales died on March 31, 1751, leaving his eldest son, George, as the heir apparent. King George II's Letters Patent created his grandson as Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on April 20, 1751.
The new Prince of Wales did not become the Duke of Cornwall because that title is reserved for the eldest son of the sovereign.
George III became king on October 25, 1760. His first son, George Augustus Frederick was born on August 12, 1762. Five days later, he was named Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester.
George III died on January 29, 1820. The Prince of Wales became King George IV. He had no sons, and his only daughter, Princess Charlotte died after giving birth to a stillborn son in November 1817. He died on June 26, 1830. The next king was his brother, the Duke of Clarence, who became King William IV. He died on June 20, 1837, and the throne passed to his niece, Princess Victoria of Kent.
Her first son and second child, Prince Albert Edward was born on November 9, 1841. His creation as Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester was announced on December 8, 1841.
Queen Victoria died on January 22,1901 and the Prince of Wales became King Edward VII. His only surviving son, George Frederick Ernst Albert was named Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on November 9, 1901.
Princess Elizabeth succeeded her father on February 6, 1952, as Queen Elizabeth II. It was not until July 26, 1958, that the queen named her nine and half-year-old son, Prince Charles, the Duke of Cornwall, as Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester.
William is the Prince of Wales, but it is far past the time for a formal declaration with the publication of the Letters Patent in the Gazette.
A Letters Patent has been published since 1714. The tradition needs to continue, Your Majesty.
3 comments:
Thank you for that comprehensive overview.
The Duchy of Edinburgh also needs to be granted to Edward. I've been wondering when, or if, Charles will ever get to that.
There is no duchy of Edinburgh. It is a dukedom, a ducal title in the peerage. Perhaps on March 10
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