Editing Prince of Wales (section)

== Heirs apparent to the English or British thrones ==
{{See also|Investiture of the Prince of Wales}}

=== Titles and roles ===
[[File:Honours of the Principality of Wales (1911).png|thumb|224x224px|Depiction of the "Honours of the Principality of Wales" created in 1911 for the investiture of Edward (later Edward VIII).]]
The title is neither automatic nor heritable; it [[Hereditary peer#Merging in the Crown|merges with the Crown]] when its holder eventually accedes to the throne, or reverts to the Crown if its holder predeceases the current [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|monarch]], leaving the sovereign free to grant it to the new heir apparent (such as the late prince's son or brother).<ref>[https://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/titles-and-heraldry Titles and Heraldry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419231207/https://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/titles-and-heraldry|date=19 April 2020}} – website of the Prince of Wales</ref>

The Prince of Wales usually has other titles and honours, if the eldest son of the monarch:

* Since 1301, the title '[[Earl of Chester]]' has generally been granted to each heir apparent to the English throne, and from the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of 'Prince of Wales'. Both titles are bestowed to each individual by the sovereign and are not automatically acquired.<ref name="pow-ps" />
* Typically the prince is also [[Duke of Cornwall]]. Unlike the title Prince of Wales, this inherently includes lands and constitutional and operational responsibilities. The [[duchy of Cornwall]] was created in 1337 by [[Edward III]] for his son and heir, [[Edward of Woodstock]] (also known as 'The Black Prince'). A charter was also created which ruled that the eldest son of the king would be the Duke of Cornwall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Duchy {{!}} The Duchy of Cornwall |url=https://duchyofcornwall.org/history-of-the-duchy.html/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004185154/https://duchyofcornwall.org/history-of-the-duchy.html |archive-date=4 October 2022 |access-date=5 September 2022 |website=duchyofcornwall.org}}</ref>

No formal public role or responsibility has been legislated by [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] or otherwise delegated to the prince of Wales by law or custom. In that role, [[Charles III|Charles]] often assisted [[Elizabeth II]] in the performance of her duties. He represented her when welcoming dignitaries to London and during [[state visit]]s. He also represented the Queen and the United Kingdom overseas at state and ceremonial occasions such as funerals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Prince of Wales – Royal Duties |url=http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/the-prince-of-wales/royal-duties |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726110141/http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/the-prince-of-wales/royal-duties |archive-date=26 July 2015 |access-date=10 August 2015 |publisher=Clarence House}}</ref> The Prince of Wales has also been granted the authority to issue [[Royal Warrant of Appointment (United Kingdom)|royal warrants]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Emma.Goodey |date=4 April 2016 |title=Royal warrants |url=https://www.royal.uk/royal-warrants-0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113110451/https://www.royal.uk/royal-warrants-0 |archive-date=13 January 2022 |access-date=5 September 2022 |website=The Royal Family |language=en}}</ref>

In 2011, along with the other [[Commonwealth realm]]s, the United Kingdom committed to the [[Perth Agreement]], which proposed changes to the laws governing succession, including altering the male-preference primogeniture to [[absolute primogeniture]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laura Smith-Spark |date=28 October 2011 |title=Girls given equal rights to British throne under law changes |url=http://us.cnn.com/2011/10/28/world/europe/uk-monarchy/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619223346/http://us.cnn.com/2011/10/28/world/europe/uk-monarchy/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 |archive-date=19 June 2017 |access-date=15 July 2012 |website=CNN}}</ref> The [[Succession to the Crown Act 2013]] was introduced to the British parliament on 12 December 2012, published the next day, and received royal assent on 25 April 2013.<ref>[http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2012-13/successiontothecrown.html Succession to the Crown Act.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112035712/https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2012-13/successiontothecrown.html |date=12 January 2021 }} Parliament of the United Kingdom.</ref> It was brought into force on 26 March 2015,<ref name="commencement">[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/894/made Succession to the Crown Act 2013 (Commencement) Order 2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529011836/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/894/made |date=29 May 2021 }} at legislation.org.uk (retrieved 30 March 2015)</ref> at the same time as the other realms implemented the Perth Agreement in their own laws.<ref name="inforce">[http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2015-03-26/HCWS490/ Statement by Nick Clegg MP, UK parliament website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705020637/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2015-03-26/HCWS490/ |date=5 July 2016 }}, 26 March 2015 (retrieved on same date).</ref>

=== Insignia ===
{{main|Coat of arms of the Prince of Wales}}
[[File:Arms of the Prince of Wales (Shield of Peace).svg|thumb|136x136px|Arms of English heir apparent, Edward the Black Prince]]

The [[Prince of Wales's feathers]] are the badge of the Prince of Wales by virtue of being the heir apparent.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fox-Davies |first=Arthur Charles |url=https://archive.org/details/completeguidetoh00foxdrich |title=A Complete Guide to Heraldry |publisher=T.C. & E.C. Jack |year=1909 |location=London |lccn=09023803 |via=Internet Archive|quote=the Prince of Wales is the only one who rejoices in the possession of officially assigned badges. The badge of the eldest son of the Sovereign, as such, and not as Prince of Wales, is the plume of three ostrich feathers, enfiled with the circlet from his coronet. Recently an additional badge (on a mount vert, a dragon passant gules, charged on the shoulder with a label of three points argent) has been assigned to His Royal Highness. This action was taken with the desire to in some way gratify the forcibly expressed wishes of Wales, and it is probable that, the precedent having been set, it will be assigned to all those who may bear the title of Prince of Wales in future.}}</ref> The ostrich feathers are generally traced back to [[Edward the Black Prince|Edward of Woodstock]] ('The Black Prince'). He bore (as an alternative to his [[Cadency|differenced]] [[Royal arms of England|royal arms]]) a shield of ''Sable, three ostrich feathers argent'', described as his "shield for peace", probably meaning the shield he used for [[jousting]]. These arms appear several times on his [[Funerary art|chest tomb]] in [[Canterbury Cathedral]], alternating with his paternal royal arms (the royal arms of King Edward III differenced by ''a label of three points argent'').<ref>Scott Giles 1929, pp. 89–91.</ref> The Black Prince also used heraldic badges of one or more ostrich feathers in various other contexts.<ref>Siddons 2009, pp. 178–179.</ref>