Prince William, who has big plans to change the monarchy, surprised the Firm when he rejected the idea of holding a major ceremony, in stark contrast to what his father, King Charles, had done.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles ascended the throne and passed the title of Prince of Wales to his eldest son and heir to the throne. The king’s courtiers had made plans to hold a ceremony at St David’s Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, but everything was cancelled.
When Charles’s time came, a grand ceremony was held at Caernarfon Castle to announce his accession. This ceremony was broadcast live to 19 million people in the UK and 500 million worldwide.
William’s plans therefore caused quite a stir behind the palace doors, according to royal author Robert Hardman.
“On becoming Prince of Wales, [William] “Not only had he ruled out an investiture, like his father’s in 1969, but even a religious service,” he revealed in his book In Elizabeth II: In Private. InPublic. The Inside Story.
He shared that the notion had been such a novel concept that the Government went so far as to consult Plaid Cymru, the Welsh nationalist party, about the ceremony plans to ensure there were no objections. However, “the idea never advanced beyond Prince William’s desk.”
A member of Prince William’s team said it was “never something he wanted to do.”
Instead, Prince William and Princess Kate celebrated their new titles with a visit to Anglesey, where they lived for three years after marrying, and Swansea.
