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What are your memories of the investiture?
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the investiture of the Prince of Wales.
The ceremony on 1 July, 1969, was watched by 4,000 guests at Caernarfon castle, while 90,000 people gathered in the streets of the north Wales town.
In Britain a television audience of 19m tuned in, along with millions more around the world, creating what was at the time the largest audience ever gained for an event in Wales. Many school children were given the day off to watch and join in with the celebrations.
See more about how the BBC covered the event here
What are your memories of the investiture? Where were you when the ceremony took place? How did you, or your family, celebrate or take part in the event?
Published:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 08:03 GMT
09:03 UK
All comments as they come in
Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 16:52 GMT
17:52 UK
I was six years old and remember my parents riveted to the TV. I love the heritage we have, the history of our Kings and Queens and their trials and tribulations. I am proud of our Royal Family. Our Queen is the perfect serene face of Great Britain!
helen lambert, bedworth, ENGLAND, United Kingdom
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Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 16:49 GMT
17:49 UK
I wasn't yet born.
[andraoirua], Belfast, United Kingdom
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Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 16:41 GMT
17:41 UK
I was taking my CSE's and was swatting up on Chemistry and Geology. Getting them was more interesting than the Prince becoming "Wales"
Bill Derbyshire, London
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Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 16:22 GMT
17:22 UK
Sheer pantomime, and waste of money.which we could have done without, although Lord Snowden made a pretty sight in his green outfit.and the liege man looked ridiculous in that gilt crown.
IVOR WITTON
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Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 16:15 GMT
17:15 UK
The thrones were still in situ at Caernarfon Castle when I was on holiday in Wales as a ten year old in 1970. I went and sat on the throne and still have the photo to prove it.
Alan, London
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Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 16:13 GMT
17:13 UK
What are your memories of the investiture?
I thought it was a proud moment of time for Wales...........a great investiture in a great setting.
Norman Bailey, Barry, United Kingdom
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Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 15:57 GMT
16:57 UK
everyone was walked out into the main hall at school and we were all made to watch it.... I can remember our headmaster telling us that we were witnessing 'history in the making' ...
olwen, hartlepool
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Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 15:57 GMT
16:57 UK
I was 14 when I ran away with two other Welsh friends on this day. We caught a train from Swansea to London where we spent the night, and then hopped a Dover-Calais ferry. The goal was to hitch-hike to Amsterdam, but no one would give us a lift, so we caught the last ferry to Dover. Then a 21-mile hike through the night over the cliffs to Folkeston, and into the arms of the police, who contacted our parents. The investiture gave us a head start, as everyone thought we were at a street party.
Owen Shows, Boston Massachusetts, USA
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Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 15:48 GMT
16:48 UK
Of the day, my abiding memory is of Lord Snowdon dressed up in a green outfit that made him look like an oversized leprechaun.
Or a few weeks after, when a group of us visiting Caernarfon, and seeing the "plastic" canopy still in place over the dais, got down on our knees in a mock act of homage to "Carlo" for a laugh and heard an American chap nearby telling his wife loudly that it was good to see the traditions in England being maintained.
[Bullroarer_Took], Bridgend, United Kingdom
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Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 15:15 GMT
16:15 UK
Like John Landis, I remember being dragged down to the school hall to watch it on TV. At the time I didn't have a clue what was going on, which is just as well as nowadays they could only make me watch such an event at gunpoint.
Dave, Swindon
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Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 15:10 GMT
16:10 UK
I was a boy of 10 living in Gulfport, Mississippi, USA. My mother woke me so I could watch the event on television. I was amazed by the spectacle. It also put a face to many names that were in the news of the day. Getting up hours before sunrise during summer holiday forty years ago paid off two years later when I was in Japan. Our class did a production of Twains "The Prince and the Pauper". I was the only one in the class who knew who the Prince of Wales was and what the title meant.
William Murray, Washington DC
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Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 14:25 GMT
15:25 UK
I was in my final year at primary school, and I remember we were all taken into the hall to watch it live on tv. Seems like yesterday! I was 11, now im 51 - anyone out there remember the same!?
jOHN LANDIS, lONDON
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Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 14:15 GMT
15:15 UK
I was in the RAF at the time and had to listen to Welshman taking time out from telling us how good Manchester United or whatever English football team they supported to winge about English oppression.
I lived in Wales from 1949 to 1959 and must have missed all the oppression.
Brian John Nicholson, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 14:14 GMT
15:14 UK
We were on holiday in the area and were held up up for an hour, in the heat with a car full of children. The police told us it was to clear the roads for the royals.The bits we saw later on tv were so strange and outdated even for that time.
Ed, Cardiff
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Added:
Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 14:08 GMT
15:08 UK
Like all true Welshmen I ignored the whole stupid affair and had a nice day off.
Robert, Criccieth
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How strange. I remember THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of true Welsh people crowding the area and cheering the prince.
Perhaps you were a one-off on that day.
Joss S
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DEBATE STATUS
Total comments: 74
Published comments: 52
Rejected comments: 22
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