Prince Charles even held his speech at his investiture ceremony in Welsh.
He declared: “I, Charles, Prince of Wales, do become your liege man of life and limb and of earthly worship, and faith and truth I will bear unto thee, to live and die against all manner of folks.”
He has later said of the important day: “For me, by far the most moving and meaningful moment came when I put my hands between Mummy’s and swore to be her liege man of life and limb and to live and die against all manner of folks—such magnificent medieval, appropriate words, even if they were never adhered to in those old days.”
Since the title of Prince of Wales is not automatic, there have been times when it was held by no one.
There was no heir apparent during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II’s father, King George VI, who had no sons.
The title of Princess of Wales has always been held by the Prince’s wife in her capacity as spouse of the heir apparent.
The current Princess of Wales is Charles’s wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
