Official portrait of Charles marks 50th anniversary of his investiture
A right royal celebration! Prince Charles looks reflective in an official portrait released by Clarence House to mark the 50th anniversary of his investiture as The Prince of Wales
- Charles, 71, was created the Prince of Wales by the Queen when he was only nine years old on July 26 1958
- Formally invested with title by mother 11 years later on July 1 1969 at Caernarfon Castle in north Wales, age 20
- To mark the fiftieth anniversary, Clarence House has released an official portrait of the heir to the throne
- He is posing in dining room of Llwynywermod, his home in Wales, with Prince of Wales’s feathers on the wall
- Another photograph released marks Wales week and shows Charles and Camilla, 71, outside their front door
The heir to the throne looks reflective in a photograph that has been released to mark the 50th anniversary of his investiture as the Prince of Wales.
The portrait shows Charles, 70, standing in the dining room of Llwynywermod, his home in Wales, with a hand-carved set of the Prince of Wales feathers mounted on the wall in the background.
Donning a dark navy pinstriped suit and red patterned tie complete with a smart pocket square, the royal can be seen gazing into the distance,
The prince and the Duchess of Cornwall, 71, are coming to the end of Wales Week – an annual event where they spend time in the country visiting charities, businesses, cities and individuals.
A second photograph was released to mark the occasion, showing Charles and Camilla standing side by side outside the front door of their restored farmhouse on the outskirts of the village of Llandovery in rural Carmarthenshire.
The Prince of Wales gazed into the distance and donned a pinstriped suit as he posed for an official portrait to mark the 50th anniversary of his Investiture. The picture was taken at his Welsh residence Llwynywormwood in Myddfai, Wales
Clarence House released a second official portrait of Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall to celebrate Wales Week 2019 at their Welsh residence. They are stood side by side outside the front door of their home on the outskirts of the village of Llandovery in rural Carmarthenshire
Charles was created the Prince of Wales by the Queen when he was only nine years old on July 26 1958.
He was formally invested with the title by his mother 11 years later on July 1 1969 at Caernarfon Castle in north Wales at the age of 20.
Monday July 1 marked 50 years – a golden jubilee – since the grand spectacle was staged amid great pomp and ceremony.
However, this week’s anniversary celebrations have been more low-key, with more than 20 engagements for the Prince and Duchess to meet the Welsh people and thank them for their charity work.
Over the past week, Charles has criss-crossed Wales visiting the Prince’s Trust call centre at Nantgarw, near Cardiff, and celebrated the 50th anniversary of Swansea gaining city status.
During the official engagements and while chatting with members of the public, Charles has ruminated on his time as the Prince of Wales and talked about his efforts to develop and support the culture and traditions of Wales.
He has cited music, art, poetry and rugby as being among the most vital of those traditions.
By its end, the week will have included events designed to celebrate Welsh arts, police, nurses, volunteers, farmers, schoolchildren and the work of the National Botanical Garden of Wales to protect local plant species.
Friday’s engagements are due to include a visit to Yr Ysgwrn, home of the celebrated Welsh war poet Hedd Wyn who was killed on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele.
The Queen kissed the cheek of her son, Prince Charles, after investing him as the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon Castle in Wales on July 1 1969 (pictured)
Beaming with pride, the Queen presented Charles to the public as the Prince of Wales at Queen Eleanor’s Gate of Caernarfon Castle at Caernarvon Castle in Wales on July 1 1969
Heir to the throne Charles, 70, is the longest-serving holder of the Prince of Wales title in history. Pictured being crowned by his mother the Queen in July 1969
July 1 marked 50 years – a golden jubilee – since the grand spectacle of Prince Charles’ investiture (pictured left and right) as the Prince of Wales was staged amid great pomp and ceremony. He was created the Prince of Wales by the Queen when he was only nine years old on July 26 1958
Prince Charles pictured at the ceremony of his investiture as the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon Castle by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in July 1969
At the end of the five-day tour the royal will not be returning to Caenarfon Castle – the scene of his historic investiture, with the prince focusing instead on meeting people across Wales and celebrating the work of charities and other organisations.
Back in 1969, the prestigious ceremony was televised and watched by an audience of 19 million people in the UK, and millions more worldwide.
Princess Margaret’s then husband the Earl of Snowdon was responsible for the design of the setting in the castle in north Wales.
Charles’s regalia included the Investiture Coronet, Sword, Ring and Rod, and he was dressed in a long royal mantle or cloak of velvet and ermine.
The Prince of Wales pictured in a Land Rover at a sports ground in Carmarthen, during his tour of Wales following his investiture
The Prince of Wales passes girls in Welsh costume in the market square of Brynmawr during the tour of Wales that followed his investiture in July 1969
The Prince of Wales, pictured at University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, receives a salute from nine-year-old Nicholas Toplet, of Aberystwyth, as he leaves the college after his first Welsh language lesson in 1969
Charles’s coronet: gold, emeralds diamonds… and a pingpong ball!
The Earl of Snowdon had originally envisioned Charles wearing a simple gold band like Laurence Olivier in Henry V but he was overruled by the Garter King of Arms, who demanded something more fancy. The result was a coronet in keeping with futuristic Sixties design themes created by goldsmith Louis Osman.
The Earl of Snowdon had originally envisioned Charles wearing a simple gold band like Laurence Olivier in Henry V but he was overruled by the Garter King of Arms
The coronet and, right, the investiture ring featuring an amethyst held by two interlaced Welsh dragons
Osman insisted it had to be hollow so it was lighter and cheaper than a traditional crown, and made the radical decision to use the process of electroforming – building up layers of gold over an epoxy resin cast. It was the first time the process had been used for such a huge piece of jewellery, and as it was hallmarked by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, the delicate headpiece shattered.
With just days to spare, a second had to be crafted. This time a ping-pong ball was used to shape the orb and, with no way of extracting it, just left in. Alongside the ball are 75 diamonds and 12 emeralds (green being the national colour of Wales) and four fleur-de-lys made from a nugget of Mawddach Valley gold and reinforced with platinum.
The gems represent the seven Gifts of God and the seven deadly sins, as well as the constellation of Scorpio, in honour of the prince’s November birthday. Weighing three pounds and standing more than ten inches tall, the coronet today forms part of the Honours of Wales.
A fresh-faced Charles – who is now the longest-serving Prince of Wales and heir apparent – knelt before the Queen to receive the insignia of office and pledge allegiance.
While the prince was saluted by cheering crowds showing their loyalty and affection, he also faced hostility from Welsh extremists who attempted to mar the investiture with bomb attacks.
Fifty years on, the Second Severn Crossing was renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge last year to honour Charles’s 70th birthday, 60 years since he took on the title in 1958 and the investiture anniversary.
The structure links England to Wales by extending the M4 across the Severn estuary.
But the decision caused controversy.
Plaid Cymru’s then-leader Leanne Wood tweeted: ‘Is this a late April fool joke?’ and an online petition opposing the change attracted thousands of signatures.
As part of the royal five-day tour, Prince Charles made a solo visit to Connect Assist in Nantgarw, South Wales on Monday, where he was greeted with a special cake
The Prince of Wales spoke to soldiers after attending a memorial service in Cardiff to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the Welsh Cavalry on Monday
On Monday, members of First The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (pictured right) marched during a memorial service in Cardiff to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the Welsh Cavalry. Pictured left, Charles was seen laying a poppy wreath for regiment soldiers who lost their lives in war
Later that day, The Prince of Wales arrived at Ty’n-y-Coed Forest in Llantrisant to meet horse loggers, and learn about the work they have been doing in the forest
Camilla (pictured) met with performers during a musical evening hosted at The Prince and The Duchess official Welsh residence; Llwynywermod in Llandovery on Tuesday
Camilla and Charles (pictured) enjoyed performances during a musical evening hosted at The Prince and The Duchess’ official Welsh residence; Llwynywermod on Tuesday
Prince Charles visited the South Wales Police Headquarters to celebrate their 50th anniversary and met officers from various units. Pictured left, with some of the members of South Wales Police and their dogs and right, he helped to take emergency calls
The Prince of Wales visited Victoria Park and the Patti Pavilion for a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Swanseas City status, granted to the city in 1969 following The Princes investiture as Prince of Wales. Picture upon his arrival on Tuesday
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were gifted a cake during their visit to Victoria Park and the Patti Pavilion for a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Swansea’s City status
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