Duke & Duchess of Sussex attended a reception hosted by HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Buckingham Palace said the special reception in London would mark the prince’s 50 years of service to Wales, the UK and the Commonwealth, and will be an opportunity to celebrate a range of Welsh charities, organisations and businesses. (News & Star, Feb. 2019)
The reception celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Prince Charles’ Investiture as the Prince of Wales. Prince Charles was joined by family, friends, leaders (including the Prime Minister of UK, Rt. Hon. Theresa May), Welsh business & organizations representatives, and representatives & recipients of Prince Charles’s Welsh charities & patronages; including The Prince’s Trust Cymru, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, and the BBC National Orchestra & Chorus of Wales.
Royal Family members, who had also been in attendance at the 1969 Investiture, included the host, Queen Elizabeth II, the guest of honour Prince Charles, and Anne, Princess Royal. Prince Charles’s wife (Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall), The Sussexes & his oldest son, Prince William & daughter-in- law, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge were also there to celebrate. The 2nd Earl of Snowdon (David Armstrong-Jones) & Lady Sarah Chatto were also in attendance; they are the son & daughter of the 1st Earl of Snowdon (Antony Armstrong-Jones) & his first wife, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon. The 1st Earl of Snowdon was the designer of the Investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969.
Two notable Guests in attendance at the anniversary reception were Lady Susan Hussey (a lady in waiting for the Queen) and Sir Nicholas Soames (MP & friend of Prince Charles). Both persons were also in attendance at the Investiture Ceremony of the Prince of Wales in 1969.
Sir Nicholas said:
“It was an incredibly moving and beautiful day, especially the moment when the Queen presented her son to all four corners [of the land]. The service was absolutely wonderful.” (Telegraph.co.uk, March 2019)
- The Sussexes met & greeted guests including representatives from Hiut Denim, Simon Weston CBE (Veteran), & The Rt. Hon. Alun Cairns (Secretary of State for Wales)
- The Sussexes lead by the Queen greeted guests in a line.
- The Sussexes then viewed the investiture regalia worn by Charles in 1969 that were on display. The items showcased included Prince Charles’ Investiture Coronet, Sword, Ring and Gold Rod (the Mantle wasn’t displayed). The 1958 Letters Patent was also displayed.
- The Sussexes followed the Queen & Prince Charles to the Ballroom where they listened to a speech & musical selection.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby gave a speech.
“Never in the history of the role can there have been such dedicated service, such honourable fulfilling of the promise at the Investiture, ‘I, Charles, Prince of Wales, do become your liege man of life and limb and of earthly worship, and faith and truth I bear unto you, to live and die against all manner of folks.’
“Service was in the oath, and service has marked the 50 years, service often publicly unnoticed, unseen.
“A role has been imagined and developed, different to that of the Sovereign, probing, asking, suggesting and prompting, yet always in the service of Crown and country, under God.
“The Investiture was unique. Seldom can a coming-of-age have had such a setting; seldom can the weight of expectation have been so great.
“In years since then, we have seen how the honour of being granted that title has been richly repaid – in The Prince of Wales’s love for the country whose name he bears, and in the deep respect he has always shown for the land, for the language, and most of all, of course, for the people.
“As we look to the future, on behalf of all here and so many across these Islands, the Commonwealth and around the world, I express gratitude for your tireless work, and heartfelt appreciation for all that you, with the wonderful support of The Duchess of Cornwall, have done, are doing, and will do.” (Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby)
The Duke & Duchess listened to a musical performance in the Ballroom by students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. For the Prince of Wales’s 50th Anniversary Reception the Welsh composer Paul Mealor created a new piece
“inspired by the legend of the Lady of Llyn y Fan, a mountain lake near Charles’s Welsh home, Llwynywermod in Carmarthenshire”. (News & Star, Fe. 2019).
Venue: Buckingham Palace, Westminster, London SW1A 1AA, UK
