The Prince of Wales.
To the Editor op the Times.
Sir, —What is the correct title of our King’s only son;? Is he Prince of Wales either by inheritance or creation '? —I am, etc., Enquirer.
[He has taken the title of Duke of Cornwall, but is not yet Prince of Wales. The following will be of interest to our correspondent:—During the last few days, there has been a considerable amount of discussion on the subject of the title “ Prince of Wales.” Many believed that it came by right to the eldest son of the Queen or King. Since the institution of the title by Edward 1., the Heir Apparent has been invariably created Prince of Wales, but it is a mistake to suppose that he is born with the title. There is no succession of Princes of Wales. The title becomes merged in the Crown until renewed by the Sovereign’s pleasure. Thus, had George IV. died while Prince of Wales, his next brother, though Heir Apparent, would not have been Prince of Wales. The placarded announcement of a birth of a Prince of Wales,which gladdened the hearts of Englishmen on November 9, 1841. was founded on a popular fallacy, for an eccentric sovereign may so determine that there shall be no Prince of Wales, save in so far as provision is made in the Act of Edward HI., who conferred the title on his son Edward (the renowned Black Prince), to be held of him and his heirs, Kings of England. But though not born Prince of Wales, the Heir Apparent is born Duke of Cornwall, a title created by Edward 111., in favor of the Black Prince, since which time the chronicles tell us the King’s iirstborn son, from the hour of his birth, is reputed Duke of Cornwall, In a work, entiled “ Crowns and Coronations,” published in 1898, it is stated: —“ Before the reign of Edward I. the eldest son was called the Lord Prince. The title of Prince of Wales originally distinguished the native princes of that country. . . • The title is not inherited, but is conferred by special creation and investiture, and was not always given immediately on the birth of the Heir Apparent. Edward 11. did not create Iris son Prince of Wales till he was 10 year old, and Edward the Black Prince wat not created until he was 13.”]
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 30, 5 February 1901, Page 1
Word Count
395The Prince of Wales. Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 30, 5 February 1901, Page 1
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