PRINCE OF WALES

The title bestowed by patent on the heir apparent to the crown of England. He is born Duke of Cornwall, .; but the title of Duke of Cornwall does not nece arily belong to the heir ap^ parent, as it can only be held by the first-begotten (not eldest) son of a king: thus Henry VIII. was not, in the life of his father, Duke of Cornwall. The origin of the title of Prince of Wales is as follows: — When Edward I. subdued Wales, he promised the people of that country, upon condition of their submi ion, to give them a prince who was born amongst them, and who could speak no other language. Upon their acquiescence with this deceitful offer he conferred the principality of Wales upon his second son Edward, then an infant, born within the principality, and unable to speak any language. Edward, by the death of his elder brother Alfo-iso, became heir to the crown, and from that time this honour has been appropriated to the eldest sons of the Kings of England. The Earldom of Chester, which is likewise usually conferred upon the heir-apparent, was once a principality, and erected into that title by parliament in the 21st of Richard II.; it was then appointed to be given to the king's eldest son. But the whole acts of that parliament were repealed in the reign of Henry IV., although the earldom has usually been since given with the principality of Wales. The revenue of the last Prince of Wales was 125,000/.; 60.000/. being paid from the civil list, and (jb,000l. from the consolidated fund. His income was last regulated by 35 G. 3. c. 125. To compa the death of the Prince of Wales, or violate the chastity of his consort, is high treason within the statute of 25 Ed. 3. The Prince of Wales has a household of his own, of which the chief officers are a comptroller and auditor-general, treasurer, vice-chamberlain, Gloucester king-at-arms, and herald; besides another cla of offl075 PRINTING cers belonging to the duchy of Cornwall, and another as great steward of Scotland. As Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester, the prince appoints sheriffs, . for those counties. By a statute of the order of the Garter i ued in 1805, the Prince of Wales was declared a constituent part of the original institution. Hence every prince becomes a Knight of the Garter the moment he is created Prince of Wales. For the constitutional question raised in 1788, respecting the right of the Prince of "Wales to the regency, see Regent. [s. 988]