Prince of Wales is the title given to the first male heir to the British throne. He is always the oldest son of the sovereign, unless that son has died or given up the title. Edward I, the English king who conquered Wales in 1282 and 1283, defeated and killed the last Welsh Prince of Wales. In 1301, he gave the title to his oldest son. Later, this son became king as Edward II. Since the reign of Edward II, almost all the oldest male heirs to the British throne have received it.
The title Prince of Wales is purely honorary. Sons of British monarchs do not inherit the title. It is newly created for each prince. The monarch’s oldest son becomes Duke of Cornwall. Even after he is named Prince of Wales, he receives his income from the Duchy of Cornwall, not from Wales. King Charles III’s oldest son, Prince William, became Duke of Cornwall when his father took the throne in 2022. That same year, Charles named William Prince of Wales.
