Wikipedia

Welsh republicanism

(Redirected from Republicanism in Wales)

Welsh republicanism (Welsh: Gweriniaetholdeb Gymreig) or republicanism in Wales (Welsh: Gweriniaetholdeb yng Nghymru) is the political ideology that advocates for Wales to be governed by a republican system, as opposed to the monarchy of the United Kingdom.

Typically, this ideology is suggested as an element of forming an independent Wales, but can also be considered as part of reforming the political system of the United Kingdom, which could include introducing an elected official as head of state. It is not synonymous with Welsh independence, but one possible form of government, as Wales before English rule had native monarchies, and most of the prominent independence organisations do not explicitly support republicanism. While the Wales Green Party supports a republic and would support independence in a referendum.

Native monarchies in Wales

edit
Main article: Principality of Wales

During the Middle Ages and since the Roman Empire left the island of Britain, Wales had many monarchical states most notably the kingdoms of Gwynedd, Powys, and Deuheubarth. The most significant Welsh royal house was the House of Gwynedd which started in c. 401 and its cadet branches, Aberffraw, Dinefwr, and Mathrafal.[1]

The legendary King Arthur is embedded in Welsh tradition and national stories through his battles for Celtic independence from the encroachment of Anglo-Saxon forces. Many Welsh leaders referenced King Arthur's messianic return to save the Welsh people and to lead rebellions against England.[citation needed]

Welsh unification fluctuated over time between different kingdoms, including the Anglo-Norman Kingdom of England which held land in southern Wales from the late 11th century. Llywelyn the Great of Gwynedd formally united Wales at the Council of Aberdyfi in 1216 under the Principality of Wales with the title Prince of Wales.[2] The title of Prince of Wales was used not as one subservient to a king (as it is now), but to invoke the Roman Imperial title of princeps.[citation needed]

Some native Welsh nobles would continue to hold a few positions of power or status in Wales after English conquest. Owain Glyndŵr as a member of the House of Mathrafal shortly reasserted Wales and an independent Principality of Wales 1400–1409. The Welsh Tudors of Penmynydd were a prominent royal house which supported Glyndŵr, and would then become English monarchs after Henry VII won the War of the Roses.[3]

English monarchy rule in Wales

edit
Main article: English rule in Wales

In the 13th century, the last Prince of Wales, Llywelyn the Last was forced into an agreement by Edward I of England that saw Llywelyn withdraw his powers to Gwynedd only. In 1282 whilst attempting to gather support in Cilmeri near Builth Wells, Llywelyn was killed by one of Edward's soldiers. Llywelyn's brother, Dafydd ap Gruffydd briefly led a force in Wales, but was captured and later hanged, drawn and quartered by Edward, thus ending Welsh independence.[4][5]

Since conquest, there have been Welsh rebellions against English rule. The last, and the most significant revolt was the Glyndŵr Rising of 1400–1415, which briefly restored independence. Owain Glyndŵr held the first Welsh parliament (Senedd) in Machynlleth in 1404 where he was proclaimed Prince of Wales and a second parliament in 1405 in Harlech. Following the eventual defeat of the Glyndŵr rebellion and a brief period of independence, it wasn't until 1999 that a Welsh legislative body was re-established as the National Assembly of Wales which was renamed Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament in 2020.[6][7]

In the 16th century, King Henry VIII of the Tudor dynasty, (a royal house of Welsh origin) and the English parliament, passed the Laws in Wales Acts, also referred to as the "Acts of Union", which incorporated Wales fully into the Kingdom of England.[8]

History of republicanism in Wales

edit

20th century

edit

Cliff Bere, a founder of the Welsh Republican Movement, stated in the early 1950s, "The English Crown still forms an important part of the English machinery of domination, accusing politicians of all hues of being willing to avail themselves of the English crown's usefulness … as a means of maintaining domination upon the Celtic nations of Britain".[9]

The 1969 investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales, saw strong opposition from Welsh nationalists, with the situation described before the investiture as "something close to open warfare between the Government's police and young people of Wales".[10]

The Welsh Socialist Republican Movement was a short lived political group that emerged following the 1979 devolution referendum which campaigned for an independent and socialist Welsh independent republic.[11]

The song "Charles Windsor" by the English indie pop band McCarthy was covered by the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers on their 1994 EP Life Becoming a Landslide. It includes lyrics describing the deposing of Charles.[12]

21st century

edit

Wales' largest pro-independence party, Plaid Cymru and Gwlad, both have a neutral position and propose a referendum after independence on the future status of the monarchy in Wales. Plaid Cymru has a number of republican members and supporters, including former party leader Leanne Wood.[13][14]

Bethan Sayed MS argued in 2019 that Senedd members should not have to swear an oath of allegiance to the queen, and instead should be allowed to swear an oath of allegiance, loyalty and service to the people of Wales.[15]

In September 2021, the pressure group Republic crowdfunded billboards across Britain calling for the abolition of the monarchy, with billboards appearing in Wales in Aberdare, Swansea and Cardiff declaring in both Welsh and English that "Wales doesn't need a prince", referring to Charles.[16][17]

The Wales Green Party support a Welsh republic in the event that Wales becomes independent.[18] The party has stated that if a referendum were to be held on the matter of Welsh independence then it would support Welsh independence.[19]

Propel and Sovereign Wales do not hold a position on the monarchy or a future Head of State in an independent Wales,[20][21] whilst Socialist Party Wales advocate a 'socialist Wales as part of a socialist federation of Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland'.[22]

2022

edit

First minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford has stated that there will be future discussions about an elected head of state in Wales, but "not this week" during the period of mourning for the Queen.[23]

A minority of crowd of protesters opposed to the British monarch attended events in Cardiff that proclaimed the accession of Charles III.[24] Upon Charles' visit to Cardiff Castle, a silent protest against the monarchy will be held by trade unions, Labour for an Independent Wales and equality campaigners, led by Bethan Sayed.[25]

CNN described Wales as the most 'hostile' country to Charles' visit. One man said: "While we struggle to heat our homes, we have to pay for your parade." King Charles sighed, saying "oh" and turned away. The man then said "We pay £100 million a year for you, and for what?". Protestors outside Cardiff Castle held banners including the phrases "Abolish the Monarchy", "Citizen not subject", "Democracy now".[26]

Senedd member for Mid and West Wales region,[27] Cefin Campbell asked in the current "more inclusive" and "egalitarian" society, whether "we need a monarchy at all".[28]

Laura McAllister, Welsh academic, former international footballer and senior sports administrator has said of the monarchy, "I'm a republican but, if I'm honest, it's pretty low on my own list of priorities. A hereditary sovereign most definitely isn't the representation of my nation that I'd choose, but I care more about poverty, education and climate change than I do about this particular debate."[29]

Prince of Wales

edit
Main article: Controversy of the Prince of Wales title

The Prince Charles's 1969 investiture was "largely welcomed" in Wales,[30] but protests also took place in the days leading up to the ceremony.[31][32] Multiple Welsh organisations and individuals were against the event, including Dafydd Iwan,[33] Edward Millward,[34] Cofia 1282 ('Remember 1282'),[35] and the Welsh Language Society.[36] On the day of the investiture, a few protesters were arrested.[37]

Since then, further prominent organisations and figures in Wales have called for an end to the title Prince of Wales. This includes Plaid Cymru MP, Adam Price, who called in 2006 for a referendum to end the Prince of Wales title.[38] Welsh actor Michael Sheen returned his OBE in 2017, so he could campaign to end the title.[39]

Following Charles III's accession to the throne on 8 September 2022, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas suggested to the media that the Prince of Wales title had "no meaning to it in the constitution" and could be discontinued.[40] When the title was passed to Prince William within a few days, further opposition was voiced.[41] The campaign group, Republic, raised £25,000 to put up billboards declaring "Wales doesn't need a prince".[42] A petition was launched calling for the abolition of the title 'Prince of Wales', which had received over 35,000 signatures.[43] First Minister Mark Drakeford,[44] Adam Price MS,[45] Jane Dodds MS,[46] and YesCymru[47] acknowledged a potential for a debate or have suggested potential for Welsh decision. On the 6 October, Gwynedd Council, the local authority where Charles was invested, voted to declare opposition to the title of 'Prince of Wales' and against holding another investiture in Wales.[48]

Welsh republicans

edit

Politics

edit

Arts

edit

Activists

edit

Public opinion

edit

In 2019, a Focaldata poll commissioned by UnHerd revealed that support for the British royal family in Wales ("I am a strong supporter of the continued reign of the Royal Family") was lowest in Swansea East at 40% (21% opposed) and highest in Montgomeryshire at 61% (18% opposed), with no overall figures for Wales available.[68]

The latest poll by YouGov was held in March 2022. The poll asked 3,041 people in Wales for their views on the monarchy which showed that 55% support the monarchy whilst 28% would prefer an elected head of state (66.3% versus 33.7% excluding don't knows/ambivalent).[69]

An opinion poll by Omnisis in February 2022 showed 52% in favour of the monarchy and 48% against.[70] An opinion poll by Omnisis in May 2022 showed 57% supporting the monarchy and 43% against in Wales, but only had 42 people in Wales in the sample.[70][71][72]

Graphical summary

edit
Table of public opinion in Wales on the Monarchy
Polling date Polling organisation and client Sample size Support the
monarchy 		Support an
elected
head of state 		Do not know Lead
3–15 March 2023 Lord Ashcroft[73] 659 54% 23% 23% 31%
17–23 February 2023 YouGov / WalesOnline[74] 1,083 52% 28% 11% 25%
March 2022 YouGov / Cardiff University[69] 3,041 55% 28% 17% 27%
November 2019 Focaldata / Unherd[75] 21,119 (UK)

(Wales not specified)

48% 25% 28% 23%
7–23 February 2019 ICM Unlimited / BBC Wales[76] 1,000 62% 18% 2% 44%
May 2018 DeltaPoll / Policy Exchange[77][78] 513 49% 18% 6% 31%
12–24 June 2009 Beaufort Research / BBC[79][80] 922 59% 29% - 30%
1999 Beaufort Research / BBC[81] 1,000 62% - - -

By age (2023)[74]

edit
Age group Support the
monarchy 		Support an
elected
head of state 		Do not know Lead
16–24 28% 20%
25–49 43% 28% 15%
50–64 61%
65+ 69% 20% 49%

Opinion polls on the title Prince of Wales in Wales

edit
Date(s) conducted Polling organisation and client Sample size Support Oppose Undecided Other Lead Note
15–23 March 2023 Lord Ashcroft[73] 659 51% 32% 17% 19% "Some argue that the Prince and Princess of Wales have no real connection to Wales, and that the titles should be abolished. Others think it is a valuable "
20–22 September 2022[82] YouGov / Barn Cymru 1,014 66% 22% 12% – 44% Non-standard question: Do you support or oppose Prince William being titled Prince of Wales?
June 2022[83] YouGov / ITV – 46% 31% 23% – 15%
2019[84][85] ICM / BBC Wales – 50% 22% 28% – 28%
2018[86] YouGov / ITV Wales – 57% 22% 16% Neither: 5% 35%
12–24 June 2009[79][80] BBC 922 58% 26% – 42% 32%
1999[81] Beaufort Research / BBC Wales – 73% – – 27% 46% Opposition and don't knows not specified.

Non-standard sample: only Welsh speakers asked.

See also

edit

Wales

edit

Other

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Price, Huw (2010). The Acts of Welsh Rulers, 1120-1283. University of Wales Press. ISBN 978-0-7083-2387-8.
  2. ^ "BBC Wales - History - Themes - Chapter 7: The Emergence of the Principality of Wales". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Tudor Family Origins in North Wales". tudorhistory.org. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Kings and Princes of Wales". Historic UK. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  5. ^ "BBC Wales - History - Themes - Chapter 8: The end of Welsh independence". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  6. ^ "OwainGlyndwr - Parliaments". www.owain-glyndwr.wales. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Welsh assembly renamed Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament". BBC News. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Wales under the Tudors". History. UK: BBC. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  9. ^ Wiliam, Mari Elin (2022). "Monarchy and National Identity: Wales and the 1953 Coronation". Cultural and Social History. 19 (3): 301–322. doi:10.1080/14780038.2022.2060903. ISSN 1478-0038.
  10. ^ Deacon, Thomas (24 February 2019). "Prince Charles, the investiture and the bombs: How Welsh nationalists tried to stop it". Wales Online. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  11. ^ Jones, Douglas (15 October 2017). The Communist Party of Great Britain and the National Question in Wales, 1920-1991. University of Wales Press. p. 258. ISBN 978-1-78683-132-3.
  12. ^ "When a young Charles was crowned Prince of Wales — and spoke in Welsh". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  13. ^ Wyn Jones, Richard (14 May 2018). "Severn bridge shows Plaid should embrace republicanism". WalesOnline.
  14. ^ "[:cy]Maniffesto[:en]Manifesto[:]".
  15. ^ "Call for alternative to Welsh Assembly oath to Queen". BBC News. 27 April 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  16. ^ "'Wales doesn't need a prince': Anti-monarchy billboards spark backlash". Sky News. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  17. ^ Harrison, Rhodri (14 September 2021). "Prince Charles appears on billboards with slogan 'Wales doesn't need a prince'". WalesOnline. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Public Administration". policy.greenparty.org.uk.
  19. ^ Wales Green Party [@WalesGreenParty] (24 October 2020). "Today, Wales Green Party has committed to campaigning in favour of an Independent Wales in the event of a referendum. A huge thanks to all those who helped create and pass this motion!" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 October 2020 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "The WNP Statement". Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Manifesto – Cymru Sovereign". Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  22. ^ Thraves, Alec. "What We Stand For". Socialist Party Wales.
  23. ^ "Drakeford: 'There's no rush' for an investiture for new Prince of Wales". ITV News. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  24. ^ PA (11 September 2022). "Anti-royalist demonstrators at Scotland, Wales events". RTÉ.
  25. ^ "King Charles III: Public invited to greet monarch in Cardiff". BBC News. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Watch: Protestor challenges King Charles over cost of monarchy as CNN describes Wales as most 'hostile' country". Nation.Cymru. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  27. ^ Hotchin, Becky (8 May 2021). "Senedd Election: Regional seats announced". South Wales Guardian. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  28. ^ "Prince of Wales announcement was divisive, says senior Plaid politician". BBC News. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  29. ^ McAllister, Laura (1 October 2022). "The future of the monarchy merits proper debate". WalesOnline. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  30. ^ Berry-Waite, Lisa (22 May 2022). "The Investiture of the Prince of Wales". The National Archives blog.
  31. ^ Ellis, John Stephen (2008). Investiture: Royal Ceremony and National Identity in Wales, 1911-1969. University of Wales Press. p. 207. ISBN 978-0-7083-2000-6.
  32. ^ "50 years since the Investiture". National Library of Wales Blog. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  33. ^ Jones, Craig Owen (Summer 2013). ""Songs of Malice and Spite"?: Wales, Prince Charles, and an Anti-Investiture Ballad of Dafydd Iwan". Music and Politics. 7 (2). doi:10.3998/mp.9460447.0007.203. hdl:2027/spo.9460447.0007.203. ISSN 1938-7687.
  34. ^ "Prince Charles' Wales Investiture Was As Controversial As 'The Crown' Shows". Bustle. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  35. ^ "50 years since the Investiture". National Library of Wales Blog. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  36. ^ Ellis, John Stephen (2008). Investiture: Royal Ceremony and National Identity in Wales, 1911-1969. University of Wales Press. p. 206. ISBN 978-0-7083-2000-6.
  37. ^ Stephen), Ellis, John S. (John (2008). Investiture : royal ceremony and national identity in Wales, 1911-1969. University of Wales Press. p. 235. OCLC 647632453.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  38. ^ "Plaid Cymru objections to Prince of Wales". Western Mail. 8 August 2006. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  39. ^ "Michael Sheen returned OBE to air views on royal family". the Guardian. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  40. ^ "'Devolved, democratic' Wales doesn't 'need' a Prince of Wales any more says Lord Elis-Thomas". Nation.Cymru. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  41. ^ "Declaring a new Prince of Wales with no discussion with the people of Wales wasn't right". Nation.Cymru. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  42. ^ "'Wales doesn't need a prince': Anti-monarchy billboards spark backlash". Sky News. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  43. ^ "Prince and Princess of Wales 'quell concerns' over investiture". 27 September 2022.
  44. ^ Hayward, Will (16 September 2022). "Mark Drakeford says 'We need to have a debate about the Prince of Wales'". WalesOnline. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  45. ^ Owen, Cathy (13 September 2022). "Plaid leader wants vote on William's investiture as Prince of Wales". WalesOnline. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  46. ^ "Prince William will be the last Prince of Wales, historian predicts". ITV News. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  47. ^ "YesCymru statement - Prince of Wales". YesCymru EN. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  48. ^ "Gwynedd says no to new Prince of Wales - authority votes against another investiture, says title should be abolished". Nation.Cymru. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  49. ^ "Mark Drakeford on drugs, the monarchy and his vision for Wales, as he launches his manifesto". ITV News. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  50. ^ Wheeler, Brian (24 September 2014). "Secret life of Labour's republicans". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  51. ^ a b c d "Our Supporters Include..." Republic. Archived from the original on 26 September 2009.
  52. ^ Bodden, Tom (4 June 2011). "Plaid Cymru AMs to snub Queen's official opening of Welsh Assembly". North Wales Live. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  53. ^ WalesOnline (30 October 2022). "'Westminster could learn something from the Royals about how to treat Wales'". WalesOnline. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  54. ^ "'I'm a republican' says Ken Skates as he defends 'Prince of Wales Bridge' name change". Nation.Cymru. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  55. ^ "Who is Leanne Wood? A profile of the Plaid Cymru leader". 29 May 2017 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  56. ^ Wintour, Patrick (4 March 1996). "Blair dogged by monarchy debate". The Guardian. ProQuest 187860918.
  57. ^ Kingsley Martin, The Crown and the Establishment. London, Hutchinson (p.137-39)
  58. ^ McAllister, Laura (1 October 2022). "The future of the monarchy merits proper debate". WalesOnline. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  59. ^ Richardson, Jay. "Lloyd Langford: Old Fashioned : Reviews 2014 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  60. ^ Ballin, Malcolm (2013). Welsh periodicals in English, 1882-2012. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 978-1783165612.
  61. ^ Moore, Dylan (7 June 2022). "Coronation Everest: A Welsh republican at the summit of monarchy and imperial adventure". The National (Wales). Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022. Writing to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the expedition in 2003, Morris wryly observes that her role in reporting the successful ascent was "very improbabl[e], for I am a lifelong republican", nevertheless describing the coincidence of the queen's coronation and the breaking news of Everest's conquest as 'a happy conjunction'.
  62. ^ Gwyn A. Williams, Review of The Enchanted Glass by Tom Nairn. Marxism Today, July 1988. (p. 43)
  63. ^ "Republicans to protest at royal visit". Wales Online. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  64. ^ Foster, Charles Robert (1980). Nations without a State : ethnic minorities in Western Europe. Michigan: Praeger. ISBN 0030568072.
  65. ^ "Laochra Uladh : Meanwhile in Wales - "Timeline of Welsh Events, 1946-1956"". Laochra Uladh. 2 June 2013.
  66. ^ Luain, Cathal Ó. "Rare Film Footage of Max and Welsh at 1916 Rising Fiftieth Anniversary". Agence Bretagne Presse (in French). Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  67. ^ Gossedge, Rob; Morra, Irene, eds. (2016). The new Elizabethan age : culture, society and national identity after World War II. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-0857728678.
  68. ^ "Support for Royals lower across west Wales and valleys, poll shows". Nation.Cymru. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  69. ^ a b "Platinum Jubilee: How strong is Wales' bond with the monarchy?". BBC News. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  70. ^ a b Bright, Sam (1 June 2022). "A Nation Split on the Monarchy". Byline Times. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  71. ^ "Support for elected head of state highest in Wales and Scotland, poll suggests". Nation.Cymru. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  72. ^ "Jubilee". Omnisis Ltd. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  73. ^ a b "Lord Ashcroft Polls: Majority of Welsh Voters Back the Monarchy Ahead of Coronation". PR Newswire (Press release). UK. 3 May 2023.
  74. ^ a b Summer, Ben (2 March 2023). "Poll shows King Charles has support in Wales but the future is less certain". WalesOnline. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  75. ^ Clements, Laura (22 November 2019). "The areas of Wales that love the Royal Family the most (and the least)". WalesOnline. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  76. ^ "BBC Wales: St. David's Day Poll 2019" (PDF).
  77. ^ Monarchy & Union Poll (PDF). DeltaPoll. 2018.
  78. ^ "Support for the Union and the Monarchy (Wales)". Deltapoll. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  79. ^ a b "Poll shows support for monarchy". BBC News Online. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  80. ^ a b "Monarchy backed by 59% in Wales". 30 June 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  81. ^ a b "Wales backs Charles for king". BBC News Online. 25 June 1999. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  82. ^ "YouGov / Barn Cymru Survey Results" (PDF). YouGov. 22 September 2022.
  83. ^ "Only 46% want another Prince of Wales after Charles, poll suggests". Nation.Cymru. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  84. ^ "Buckingham Palace event marks Prince of Wales' 50 years". BBC News. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  85. ^ Jackson, Gregor (7 March 2019). "BBC Wales - St. David's Day Poll 2019 (2)". icmunlimited. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  86. ^ "ITV News Poll: Should Charles be the last Prince of Wales?". ITV News. ITV. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Welsh_republicanism&oldid=1256736305"