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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Conor Gogarty & Sam Elliott-Gibbs

Welsh council votes to abolish Prince of Wales title amid fury over 'archaic tradition'

A Welsh council has voted in favour of a motion to abolish the Prince of Wales title after one councillor described the monarchy as an "archaic oppressive tradition".

Gwynedd Council saw a motion tabled by Plaid Cymru councillor Elfed Wyn ap Elwyn as the role was shifted to King Charles' heir.

Prince William was given the honour by his father, who bestowed the title upon him during his first speech as the monarch.

This meant that as well as becoming the Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge, William is now also the Prince of Wales and his wife, Kate, is the Princess of Wales.

But the decision has not gone down well everywhere.

William and Kate visited Wales in late September (UK Press via Getty Images)
But the new Prince and Princess of Wales titles have caused a stir (UK Press via Getty Images)

The title has been controversial since the last Welsh Prince of Wales, Dafydd ap Gruffydd, was brutally killed in 1283 on the order of Edward I of England, who later gave his 16-year-old son Edward II the title.

Gwynedd councillors voted by 46 to four in support of Mr ap Elwyn's motion while four abstained, the BBC reports. The council does not have the authority to officially end the title.

The then-Prince Charles' investiture at Caernarfon Castle in 1969 drew protests from groups including Cymdeithas yr Iaith, Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru and the Free Wales Army.

The new Prince and Princess of Wales wanted to "quell some concerns" around the investiture, it was reported last month.

King Charles handed the title to his son following the Queen's death (Getty Images)

An event similar to 1969's is off the table and there may not even be a formal investiture ceremony.

Mr ap Elwyn, who represents Bowydd and Rhiw, said he wanted "relevant authorities to consult formally with the people of Wales on the question of whether the title should be abolished or not".

The councillor added: "Wales today is a modern, democratic country, with a Senedd making progress, giving the people of Wales a voice and a platform to drive change and develop the nation.

"This archaic oppressive tradition is a blight on our nation and has been for centuries. It gives the impression that the people of Wales are owned by the system, rather than being free citizens living in our own country.

William is not popular in every part of Wales (UK Press via Getty Images)

"It makes no sense, in my view, that so much public money is used to sustain the royal family, including the Prince of Wales role, given the cost of living crisis that our people are suffering up and down the country."

In his motion he called for the council to "express its opposition to the continuation of the title". He also asked the council to oppose any investiture of the prince in Gwynedd or elsewhere in Wales.

Prince William and Princess Catherine are understood to be "very clear [the title] is a long-term thing".

A Kensington Palace source said they wanted to "deepen trust" with the Welsh public by frequently visiting Wales — including a trip to Cardiff before Christmas and the recent visits to Swansea and Anglesey.

They are said to be keen to "use the platform they have to take the dynamic nation of Wales to the global stage". More than 36,000 people have signed a petition against the title being passed on.

Wales' first Presiding Officer, Dafydd Elis-Thomas, recently spoke to ITV about a conversation he once had with King Charles on the subject.

"In discussions with him when he was still Prince of Wales, when I had cultural responsibilities in the Welsh Government, one of the issues I did raise with him was that I hoped there would never again be an investiture in Caernarfon Castle," he said.

“[Charles] laughed and said: ‘Do you think I want to put William through what I went through?'”

First Minister Mark Drakeford has said there should be "no rush" to plan an investiture ceremony. He added that there was time to come to a "conclusion on what might be suitable for the best way forward".

Plaid leader Adam Price said there should be a "public debate" on the title. "It is Plaid Cymru’s long held view that it should be the people’s democratic right to have a final say on this matter in an independent Wales," he said.

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