Question about WALES?

Question

As far as I was aware, The UK is made up of 4 constituent countries - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

However on this forum I have seen a lot of people refer to Wales as a principality - Can someone please explain this?

Answer 1

I think that this goes back to the middle ages, partly to assuage rebellion the first son of the Monarch was called the Prince of Wales, hence Principality. Probably the most famous of that period was the Black Prince, but it's still the case today.

{edit} For a better answer check Wiki..

Answer 2

Wales is a country, not a principality. To become a principality england and Scotland would also have to be one.

Answer 3

Wales is part of the UK, but, like Scotland they have their own parliment (The Welsh Assembly) and  if given the choice most Welsh would like to be a separate state

Answer 4

Wales dose not have a Parliament but a glorified talking shop called an Assembly and the majority of Welsh people don't want indepndance.  

Answer 5

Back in the past Wales was ruled by the title of a ruler who called himself the Prince of Wales, I,E he was the king but prefered the use of Prince. Wales was invaded by the normals and the saxsons who beheaded our native prince and then proclaimed the son of the English kings the Prince of Wales(This still happens today and is Wrong and soon will stop) In the 14th century Owain Glyndwr regained Wales and sent an army to England to capture hereford and many places e then died down and in the 15th century Wales was fully annexed under a Welsh king Henry the 7th to England, This made them officialy one legal identity, Wales was deannexed in the 1950's due to growing support for nationalism, Wales is it's own Country without a monarchy, the only monarchy is the English monarchy which arent Welsh. Wales has her own Assembly/to become parliament) and her own language, Wales is more different to England than any of the other nations in the Uk, I,e Stronger language, culture and identity.

Wales is a Principality and a Country Just like Scotland is a Kingdom and a Country.

Annibyniaeth i Gymru

Independence for Wales.  

Answer 6

England and Scotland are Kingdoms, Wales is a Principality (Current Prince of wales is Prince Charles); Northern Ireland is a Province. Confusingly, the Head of State of the United Kingdom is Queen Elizabeth II. There are good historical, complicated reasons for this situation but its main purpose now is to make things confusing for foreigners.

Answer 7

Because historically it was ruled by a prince or something, hence principality (prince). This is why there is a title "Prince of Wales".

This is different to the former Kingdom of Scotland and former Kingdom of England, places ruled by a king, hence kingdom (king).