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Culture

Iwan Rheon: 'The Prince of Wales is an archaic title - we need to get rid'

By David Owens
Iwan Rheon (Credit: Ian West, PA)

Actor Iwan Rheon has said that Wales does not need a prince after playing the role of Prince William in a TV show.

The Game of Thrones star said he agrees with actor Michael Sheen that the title should be discontinued.

Iwan Rheon took on the role of Prince William in the HBO animated comedy series The Prince, however he told the Telegraph newspaper last year that he felt no closer to the royal family for having done so.

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“It’s an archaic title that was essentially invented to keep the Welsh down, to stop them having their own princes, by an English king," he said.

"I think when Charles ascended to the throne, it should have just been got rid of … we don’t need it. It wouldn’t be just to keep us submissive …?”

When questioned about the alleged rift between William and Harry, he said: “I just don’t care. Good luck to them both. They do lots of wonderful stuff for ­environmental charities and their support for the WWF (World Wide Fund) is fantastic. But I’m staying neutral.”

Michael Sheen last year questioned what the title of Prince of Wales means to the Royal Family, after the King decided to visit Wales on Owain Glyndŵr Day.

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The actor asked whether they realised the King’s visit clashed with the day, which would have been “insensitive to the point of insult”.

But if the visit was arranged without realising the history of the day in which Owain Glyndŵr was made Prince of Wales in 1404 “then one does wonder what being Prince of Wales was so long actually meant if you were not aware of what that day means,” he said.

He went on to quote Lily Smalls, Mrs. Beynon’s maid, from Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood: “Where you get that thing from, Willy? Got it from my father, silly. Give it back then, love.'”

Watch Michael Sheen's full speech here...

A beautiful day in Wales #OG pic.twitter.com/MSxjjte928

— michael sheen 💙 (@michaelsheen) September 16, 2022

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6 comments

Riki

Yes! There are multiple titles why we need to get rid of it, it being archaic is one, the English using it as an eternal insult on the world stage is another.

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Steve A Duggan

We all know the Prince of Wales title needs to be scrapped other than the King and the British establishment. Until independence, and the banishing of this slight to our nation, people in Cymru should shun the royal family - ignore them. At royal functions and tours don't show up - these people do not represent us, their ancestors conquered our country and forced an English prince upon us. Yes, that may be centuries ago but the family still wants to continue rubbing our noses in it today. Our nation doesn't deserve that kind of treatment. The title must be abolished now.

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Riki

English establishment! Calling It British is an historical oxymoron.

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Y Cymro

Totally agree with Iwan Rheon regarding that colonial role Prince of Wales. We are a Kingdom of Kingdoms not a Principality. Englishman Prince William was gifted the title without consultation or care by his daddy Charles who spent nearly 40 years in the role doing absolutely nothing for Wales, a country he pledged to serve in 1969. The reality is. The only one he served was not Wales but himself and his adulterous affair with a married woman. The Monarchy and democracy are incompatible. Wales needs England supporting Prince William like hole in the head. We do not benefit financially one iota from having a Prince. In fact. Prince William benefits off our backs with the Crown Estate. Time we consigned him and the role to the dumpster of history. Wales became an independent republic free from English rule so we can return back to the warrior nation we once were.

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Richard Davies

The whole lot needs to be abolished, mr & mrs charlie windsor (should meet the same fate as charlie 1), mr & mrs willy windsor and all the other parasites need to go! I don't particularly care if it's by ballot or bullet! Cymru, yr Alban, Gogledd Iwerddon a lloegr cannot be described as democracies until we can elect our head of state!

Reply
Che Guevara's Fist

"...by ballot or bullet!" My dude!

Reply

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