Michael Sheen has been on the receiving end of scathing criticism after he questioned the timing of King Charles III’s visit to Wales on Friday, September 16. Sheen posted a video on Twitter on Friday afternoon thanking King Charles for his visit, but then questioning why the royal visit had happened on Owain Glyndwr day.
Owain Glyndwr is one of Wales’ most notable historical figures and is known throughout the nation as the last - self-proclaimed - native Prince of Wales. Every year people gather in Corwen town square to mark Owain Glyndwr Day on September 16 - the date in which Glyndwr's proclamation took place in 1400, when Glyndwr began a 15-year uprising against the then-king of England, Henry IV.
Glyndwr has a statue in the square and the event usually consists of a procession and wreath laying ceremony by the statue of Glyndwr right at the heart of the town, before a service is carried out at a local church. But this year, some events in Wales were scaled back to avoid clashing with King Charles' visit to the Welsh capital.
READ MORE: Big screens will show the Queen's funeral across the UK but none are in Wales
Despite the King’s visit some events celebrating Owain Glyndwr on September 16 did go ahead. People in Corwen did gather at his statue, while the Cambrian band also marched to the statue at 11am. There was also a service at Seion Church. A walking tour started at Owain Glyndwr’s Parliament House in Machynlleth at 10am and 2pm, and Caffi Alys in the town also hosted a night of music to celebrate the day.
In the video, Sheen said about the timing of the visit: “If it's chosen deliberately then I'm sure many people will feel that is quite insulting to those who celebrate Owain Glyndwr. And if it wasn't done on purpose. If it was done accidentally without realising what day it was then one does wonder what being Prince of Wales actually meant to him if you're not aware what that day means.”
Sheen acknowledged the Queen's death as an "emotional era defining period of time" and lamented the loss of "so much history and tradition" as well as great "sadness and grief". He offered his condolences to the royal family and said: "For people who are proud of their Britishness, the queen is very much a symbol of that." But then he continued by saying there was "more than one story in these isles" .
More than one thousand people took to Facebook to share their views on Sheen’s video, with many saying that the majority of Welsh people do not celebrate, or in some cases even realise the significance of the date in Wales.
Carol Jones said: “How many people were actually aware of this? I hardly think it was deliberately planned. The poor man has just lost his mother but has had to carry on with official duties.”
Susan Owen, agreed, replying: “When most Welsh people and those living in Wales have never heard of Owain Glyndwr day, why on Earth would his staff or him know? Notice I say Owain Glyndwr day, and not Owain Glyndwr, who the King actually referred to in his address yesterday.”
Kay Tudor, from Caerphilly, said she thought Wales would “never again have a Welsh Prince of Wales”. “Michael Sheen, you should show some respect for the lady [the Queen] who devoted her life to duty. King Charles has worked hard supporting her as Prince of Wales and in his own right. He has earned respect. There cannot have been many people aware of Owain Glyndwr day, and he has been so busy this week that I doubt he would have known either.”
Like many others, Colin Morgan also said he’d never heard of Owain Glyndwr day. “Who exactly designated Owain Glyndwr day? Although I’m not an authority on all things, my family is Welsh and I’ve lived in Wales for over two decades, and never once have I heard of such a thing as Owain Glyndwr day.”
Diamond Gee added: "Or no meaning other than ticking all the boxes before the funeral. I'm happy to say I'm a Welsh 'not that bothered by the royal family' person, but I do feel the bottom of the barrel is being scraped heavily by those wishing to make something out of anything they can to undermine Charles et al."
Some thanked Sheen for the video, saying they’d been educated on what Owain Glyndwr day was the first time. Geoff Ifans said: "Just shows how little knowledge the Welsh have of their own history, their own story, but anything on English history or the royal family and they're experts. It's called a lifetime of brainwashing from birth to coffin. Everything is aimed at turning the Welsh into tame little replicas of English people."
Marc Howells responded: "Well, at least something good has come from this. Previously the vast majority of Welsh people would have been unaware of Owain Glyndwr day. Now more people will be aware of the day next year."
Ceri Tan added: "Truly baffled by the comments of: 'Oh, I'm sure King Charles had no idea of the date. He's had a difficult week, cut him some slack.' 1) There isn't someone who organises his diary. I'm sure he has a whole team who should make it their job to know of these things. 2) Charles has been the Prince of Wales for how long? For those who believe he truly cares about our country, shouldn't this be something he is aware of, and how it could be seen as an insult to some of the people of Wales?"
Read next:
- Bearded man heckles King Charles in Cardiff over the cost of the monarchy
- Huw Edwards replaced on BBC's royal coverage on Friday
- I queued all night to meet King Charles and he told me I shouldn't have bothered
- Mark Drakeford says 'We need to have a debate about the Prince of Wales'
- The photos that tell the story of Charles III's first visit to Cardiff as King
