Why is the first son of the royal family always becomes Prince of Wales?

Question

For many centuries it has happenned,was a pact drawn up with the Welsh and England,maybe a deal between so peace could reign,then england could carry on fighting somebody else?

Answer 1

Edward I conquered Wales, and built lots of large castles to keep control, such as Caernarfon.

He then invested his son with the title "Prince of Wales", in 1301, and the title has usually been granted to the heir to the throne since then. Mary, daughter of Henry VIII, was sometimes referred to as the Princess of Wales until she was declared illegitimate when her parents' marriage was dissolved.

The Prince of Wales certainly hasn't always inherited the throne - some have died before the monarch (such as the Black Prince, son of Edward III, or Arthur, son of Henry VII), others have lost the inheritance when they or the King was deposed (such as Edward, son of Henry VI).

Answer 2

because that's the way its always been done - and if the royals don't have tradition what do they have etc etc

Answer 3

Nowadays, it's in order to keep Wales 'sweet' - the English establishment do not want Wales or Scotland rocking the boat by moving towards independence or republicanism. So it's an attempt to keep Wales on board/involved.

Answer 4

The Principality of Wales - think...

Twll dîn pob Sais!

Answer 5

Tradition.  Legend has it that Edward I told the conquered Welsh that they would be ruled by someone who spoke know English...which sounded good to the Welsh since they hated the English.  Edward then named his baby son (the future Edward II) as Prince of Wales.  Since then the tradition is that the monarch bestows the title on the eldest son, although it's not required.

Answer 6

no he rules wales until he is king

Answer 7

Cause prince of dolphins sounds wimpy

Answer 8

Wales wasn't even asked if they approved when the King of England started calling his first-born son the Prince of Wales. For that matter, no-one consulted the King of England's younger sons (or any of the daughters) as to why they shouldn't have the chance to become Prince (Princess) of Wales. What happened was that, in 1282, King Edward I of England, called Longshanks, defeated Llewellyn Prince of Wales in battle. Thereafter, Edward gave his son, the future Edward II, the title of Prince of Wales. And his son, Edward III, was the first to make the practice of giving the title Prince of Wales to the eldest son pretty much a permanent tradition. Llewellyn wasn't asked because he was defeated in battle and so his permission was not needed and the daughters and the younger sons were never asked because the English kings and queens have just always been too mentally lazy to make hardheaded rational decisions about which of their brats is the best and the brightest.