On April 25, 1284, Edward I’s queen gave birth to a son, also named Edward, within the precincts of brand-new Caernarfon Castle. When little Edward’s elder brother, Alfonso, died four months later, the King showed his baby son and heir to the Welsh nobility, giving the newly vanquished country a prince ‘that was borne in Wales and could speake never a word of English’. Edward of Caernarfon, the future Edward II, thus became the first Prince of Wales.
Caernarfon already possessed mythic associations for the Welsh, having been the site of what must have been, on that remote frontier, an impressive Roman fort. Edward I built on this prestige: not only were the works on a scale never seen before in Wales, but the silhouette created by his architect, Master James of St George, may have been intended to evoke the walls of Constantinople, one of the twin foci of the Roman Empire.
The castle was burnt during an uprising of 1294, but Edward put down the rebellion with devastating efficiency and rebuilt the castle. He intended that Caernarfon should be both the capital of his new dominion and a royal palace — hence the size — although his successors rarely used it as he intended. Yet its grandeur is undimmed: Cadw's website proudly proclaims that it is 'recognised around the world as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages,' and they're entirely right to do so.
Caernarfon Castle and the investiture of the Prince of Wales
Though generations of heirs to the throne took the title 'Prince of Wales', the investiture ceremony at Caernarfon Castle — memorably experience by the present King Charles III back in 1969 — is a relatively modern invention. In 1911, Prince Edward — later King Edward VIII — was the first in centuries to have an official ceremony instead of being granted the title by letters patent. The revived tradition carried on until 1969 Charles was invested, but there was opposition to the ceremony back then, and Kensington Palace recently confirmed that Prince William has 'no plans' to have an official investiture ceremony at the castle.
How to visit Caernarfon Castle
Caernarfon Castle stands on the corner of the ancient town in North Wales, where the Afon Seiont river runs out into the Menai Straits, looking across to Anglesey. It's is run by Cadw; adult tickets cost £11.10. See the official website for more details and opening times.
Stonehenge, Wilthsire: 'One of the wonders not only of this country, but of the world'
Our Grand Tour of Britain alights at what is arguably the world's most famous prehistoric site: Stonehenge, in Wiltshire.
Chapel of St Peter on the Wall, Essex: 'The deepest living root of the church in Britain'
Our 21st century Grand Tour of Britain moves on to an ancient church in Essex.
Glastonbury, Somerset: The place where the Holy Grail came to Britain
The ancient town of Glastonbury is synonymous without spirituality, mysticism and legend — and it's an unmissable stop-off on our list
Byron, Shelley and how the Georgian proto-jet set turned Grand Tours into lives abroad
For some, The Grand Tour of the 18th and 19th centuries was a one-off trip. For others it became a
-
The real name of a 'ghost' rainbow, the first ever omnishambles, and golf on the moon: Country Life Quiz of the Day 20 February 2025Some real brainteasers for you in our Quiz of the Day. Good luck!
-
Tom Parker Bowles's favourite recipe: French onion soupThis dish is no mere Gallic broth, rather pure bonhomie in a bowl — a boozy, beefy, allium-scented masterpiece that cries out for the chill depths of winter
-
10 of Scotland’s most magical white sand beachesWhat better day to celebrate some of Scotland's most stunning locations than St Andrew's Day? Here's our pick of 10 of the finest white sand beaches in the country.
-
Curious Questions: Who dislodged Britain's most famous balancing rock?A recent trip to Cornwall inspires Martin Fone to tell the rather sad story of the ruin and restoration of one of Cornwall's great 19th century tourist attractions: Logan Rock at Treen, near Land's End.
-
Henley Festival: 13 things you'll see at the 'posh Glastonbury'Revellers in ball gowns and dinner jackets, turning up on board £200,000 boats to dance and party while knocking back magnums of vintage champagne? It can only be the extraordinary Henley Festival, the high-end musical extravaganza that's a sort of Glastonbury-on-Thames for the (very) well heeled. We sent Emma Earnshaw along to see what it was like.
-
The best open air theatres in BritainAmid the sweet chestnuts, walnuts and cobnuts of a Suffolk farm, a natural amphitheatre has been transformed into a glorious sylvan venue for touring companies to tread Nature’s boards. Jo Cairdv pays a visit to the mesmerising Thorington Theatre, and picks out three more of the finest outdoor performance venues in Britain.
-
Alexandra Palace: How it's survived fires, bankruptcy and even gang warfare in 150 years as London's 'palace of the people'Alexandra Palace has suffered every imaginable disaster, yet remains enduringly popular even a century and a half after its official grand opening. Martin Fone takes a look at the history of one of Britain's great public buildings.
-
Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland: The spectacular border town with a castle that changed hands 13 timesBerwick-upon-Tweed spent centuries as a pawn in Anglo-Scottish conflict; today, it's a charming border town with spectacular sights. Clive Aslet takes a look.
-
Ewelme, Oxfordshire: The medieval almshouses set up by Chaucer's grand-daughter and still running todayCountry Life's 21st century Grand Tour of Britain stops off at the remarkable church and almshouses at Ewelme, Oxfordshire.
-
The Flying Scotsman: How the first 100mph locomotive became the most famous train in the worldThe first train to officially hit 100mph may not even have been the first, and didn't hold the rail speed record for long; yet a century later its legend is undimmed. Jack Watkins celebrates the Flying Scotsman.
