How William and Kate have spent years preparing to be Prince and Princess of Wales: Couple started married life in Anglesey, took George and Charlotte on their debut outing in Cardiff – and celebrate the nation’s ‘beauty’

• Kate Middleton and Prince William, both 40, are Prince and Princess of Wales
• The royal couple already had deep connections to the country before the title
• Mother-of-three went on her first ever official royal engagement in the country
• Couple started family in Anglesey, and took kids on first engagement in Cardiff
• Meanwhile the pair have been on regular trips and visits back to the country 

Prince William and Kate Middleton may have only officially become the Prince and Princess of Wales a few days ago – but the royal couple have long had a special connection with the country.

In his first televised address to the nation since the death of the Queen on Friday night, King Charles III confirmed his son William would inherit his title of the Prince of Wales and his wife Kate would become Princess. 

And sources said the new Princess ‘appreciates the history’ associated with the role of the Princess of Wales but wants to create her ‘own path’. 

King Charles’ own position as Prince of Wales wasn’t without controversy – he was announced the title at the age of nine, and there were fears of nationalist violence at  his investiture ceremony in 1969.  

However William and Kate’s bond with the country has been ongoing for years – with Kate going on her first official royal engagement in Anglesey, where the couple would later have their first family home with George.

Meanwhile they later took the nine-year-old and his seven-year-old sister Charlotte on their first official engagement in the country.

Prince William and Kate Middleton may have only officially become the Prince and Princess of Wales a few days ago – but the royal couple have long had a special connection with the country (pictured in 2011) 

Meanwhile they later took the nine-year-old and his seven-year-old sister Charlotte on their first official engagement in the country earlier this year 

The couple, then unmarried, arrived in Anglesey in 2010, while William worked for RAF Valley. 

William decided to rent a £750-a-month, four-bedroom whitewashed farmhouse from local landowner and long-time royal confidant Sir George Meyrick and his wife Jean in the largely Welsh-speaking hamlet of Bodorgan, on the South-West corner of the island.

The Royal couple used to regularly enjoy Wednesday night suppers of shepherd’s pie and claret up at ‘the big house’ (as the stately pile, Bodorgan Hall, is known) with the admirably discreet Meyrick family.

The farmhouse is in an isolated but breathtakingly scenic position above the Irish Sea, surrounded by private land and overlooking a small beach, accessible only by an hour-long cross-country hike.

William and Kate’s bond with the country has been ongoing for years – with the couple regularly visiting different parts of Wales 

In his first televised address to the nation since the death of the Queen on Friday night, King Charles III confirmed his son William would inherit his title of the Prince of Wales and his wife Kate would become Princess

In the garden, there is a gas-fired barbecue, which was put to good use by the couple in summer.

One member of staff previously said: ‘She loved it in here. She spent a lot of time here, especially in the lighting and bathroom departments.’

Day to day, the couple followed a very ordinary routine — although often William’s commute to work was rather more grand than most.

Apart from that, the couple liked to invite family and friends from London to stay, or sometimes to socialise with William’s RAF colleagues.

Though friendly and approachable, they very much continued to ‘mix with their own sort’, according to neighbours. The couple also enjoyed long walks with their dog Lupo on Llanddwyn Beach, a picturesque five-mile stretch with views across to Snowdonia National Park.

The couple, then unmarried, arrived in Anglesey in 2010, while William worked for RAF Valley, and Kate took part in her first official engagement there in 2011 

Prince William watched on as Kate held up a champagne bottle after naming a new lifeboat, at the Trearddur Bay Lifeboat Station on the island of Anglesey at her first official public engagement 

At the time, Prince William was working for RAF Valley in Anglesey and the couple lived in the area for three years 

In February 2011, Kate took part in her first official public engagement in the Welsh town. 

It would see her launching a new lifeboat at the Trearddur Bay lifeboat station, near their Anglesey home

Prince William and Kate, then his his fiancé of two months, couldn’t keep the smiles from their faces as they carried out their duties and spoke to well-wishers, many of whom were looking forward to the royal wedding that April.

In 2011, the couple were greeted by crowds of people who had braved the cold in the hope of catching a glimpse of the royal love birds.

Kate found herself particularly drawn to the children, with photos showing the then 29-year-old crouching down to speak to the little ones.

Kate took part in her first engagement following the birth of her son Prince George in Anglesey in 2014

It was while living in Anglesey that the couple tied-the-knot just months later, before they welcomed their first son George, making Wales their first family home.

It was Anglesey that Kate decided to take part in her first royal engagement after George’s birth.

She attended the ‘Ring O Fire Race’ in Anglesey in April 2013.   

When the couple announced their plans to leave in September 2013, William spoke passionately of his time on the island off the North-West coast of Wales.

‘I know that I speak for Catherine when I say that I have never in my life known somewhere as beautiful and as welcoming as Anglesey,’ he said.

In recent years, the royal couple have regularly visited, including meeting members of the Caernarfon Coastguard and Rescue Helicopter Base in North Wales in 2019  

And in 2020, the royal couple visited the country an incredible four times, with Kate visiting Cardiff in January as part of her early years work (left) and the duo visiting together in February (right) 

‘Both of us will miss it terribly when my Search & Rescue tour of duty comes to an end.

Since, they have returned to it regularly, with multiple visits in the past few years. 

In May 2019, the couple met with members of the Coastguard helicopter team during a visit to Caernarfon Coastguard and Rescue Helicopter Base in North Wales. 

And in January 2020, Kate visited Cardiff at the start of the year as part of her Early Years development work.

The following month, she returned to the country as she joined Prince William for a busy day of engagements, including at  Port Talbot Steelworks.

The couple looked deeply interested as they toured the control centre and learnt more about the inner-workings of the plant from works manager Carl Banfield. Tata Steel made headlines in November last year when it announced it would cut up to 1,000 UK-based jobs as part of a 3,000-strong reduction across Europe.

Later the same year, the couple visited Barry Island, South Wales, to speak to local business owners about the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector

It was the penultimate stop on a busy afternoon of engagements for the couple, which saw them visit RNLI Mumbles Lifeboat Station, near Swansea, and meet well-wishers on a walkabout by the seafront. They also visited an ice cream parlour, where they met local families and Kate was surprised by two of her prep school teachers.

The day ended with a visit to Bulldogs boxing club in Port Talbot, which helps children who have overcome adverse experiences and mental health issues.

By August, they were making their third visit to the country as they visited Barry Island, South Wales, to speak to local business owners about the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector.

Their fourth and final visit of the year came in December, when they visited Cardiff as part of a short tour of the UK ahead of the Christmas holidays to pay tribute to the inspiring work of individuals, organizations and initiatives across the country.

And in December 2020, Kate and Prince William visited Cardiff Castle to kick off their short tour of the UK 

While they ddin’t visit the country in 2021 amid the Covid-19 pandemic, they have already visited the country a number of times this year.

Earlier this year, a beaming Kate was in high spirits as she joined Prince William to celebrate St David’s Day with a visit to Wales. 

The then Duchess of Cambridge donned an all-green tonal outfit while visiting Abergavenny Market alongside the Duke, where the couple learned how important local suppliers are to rural communities. They then visited a youth club at Blaenavon Hwb in Blaenavon, and played a game of pool. 

And it was Cardiff where the couple decided their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte should have their first royal engagement. 

Prince William and Kate were joined by Prince George and Princess Charlotte as they brought the Platinum Jubilee celebrations to Wales while visiting concert rehearsals at Cardiff Castle.

Meanwhile the couple have also already visited Wales a number of times this year, firstly stopping by Abergavenny and Blaenavon in March for a busy day of engagements 

The couple met performers and crew involved in a special Platinum Jubilee Celebration Concert taking place within the grounds of the castle.

William and Kate seemed to encourage their shy-looking children to shake hands and introduce themselves to dignitaries as they arrived in the Welsh capital, though Charlotte was soon beaming. 

It was the young royals’ first official visit to Wales and one of the first times they have greeted and interacted with members of the public.

Earlier this week, an insider said Kate ‘appreciates the history’ associated with the role of the Princess of Wales but wants to create her ‘own path’.

Kate, formerly known as the Duchess of Cambridge, will now hold the titles of the Duchess of Cornwall and the Princess of Wales – the first member of the Royal Family to hold the title since Princess Diana.

Meanwhile they poignantly returned to Cardiff as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and were joined by their eldest two children Prince George and Princess Charlotte

The occasion marked the first time the young Prince and Princess had taken part in an official engagement 

However a source said the new Princess of Wales ‘appreciates the history associated with this role but will understandably want to look to the future as she creates her own path’.

The royal source said: ‘The couple are focused on deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales over time.

‘The Prince and Princess of Wales will approach their roles in the modest and humble way they’ve approached their work previously.’

In his first televised address to the nation since the death of the Queen, King Charles III confirmed his son Prince William would inherit his title of the Prince of Wales and his wife Kate would become Princess.

The King said: ‘Today, I am proud to create [William] Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty

‘With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given.’

Since the 14th century the title of the Princess of Wales has been used by the wives of the Princes of Wales. However, it is a courtesy title.

Technically, Charles’s wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles, has been the Princess of Wales until now, but she has used the feminine equivalent of Charles’s Duke of Cornwall title, the Duchess of Cornwall.

The Duchess of Cornwall is thought to not use the Princess of Wales title out of respect for Charles’s ex-wife Princess Diana, who died in Paris in August 1997.

Charles was created Prince of Wales when he was just nine-years-old – but faced controversy and backlash over the title  

Charles was created the Prince of Wales by the Queen when he was only nine years old on July 26 1958.  

He was formally invested with the title by his mother 11 years later on July 1 1969 at Caernarfon Castle in north Wales at the age of 20.

In preparation, he spent ten weeks learning about Welsh culture, history and language, and during the ceremony he gave his replies in both English and Welsh.

He also gave his speech in Welsh. 

The Queen kissed the cheek of her son, Prince Charles, after investing him as the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon Castle in Wales on July 1 1969 (pictured) 

Beaming with pride, the Queen presented Charles to the public as the Prince of Wales at Queen Eleanor’s Gate of Caernarfon Castle at Caernarvon Castle in Wales on July 1 1969

Prince Charles was the longest-serving holder of the Prince of Wales title in history. Pictured being crowned by his mother the Queen in July 1969

Staunch nationalist and republican Dr Tedi Millward taught the Prince of Wales ahead of his investiture in 1969, despite being arrested at a Welsh language protest in 1963. 

He refused to attend the Prince’s controversial investiture at Caernarfon Castle, despite his role, for which he required stringent vetting by Special Branch. 

The lecturer said in one of his last interviews: ‘The police had me in their black book so I was bit surprised when I was asked to teach him Welsh. The police interviewed me very sternly.

He was created the Prince of Wales by the Queen when he was only nine years old on July 26 1958

The Prince of Wales pictured in a Land Rover at a sports ground in Carmarthen, during his tour of Wales following his investiture

‘When I met him I tried to be neutral, I just treated him the same as any other student. I’m not particularly proud of being his Welsh teacher, it was forced upon me.’

‘I was not in favour of him becoming the Prince of Wales but I didn’t argue the point with him.

‘I got on quite well with him, he was good to get to know. I found him intelligent and quite charming, we stayed in touch for a long time afterwards.’

Charles wore a bulletproof vest at his investiture ceremony due to fears of nationalist violence.

The Prince of Wales, pictured at University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, receives a salute from nine-year-old Nicholas Toplet, of Aberystwyth, as he leaves the college after his first Welsh language lesson in 1969

The ceremony was a milestone in the modernisation of the Royal Family, a coronation spectacle designed not for the 4,000 invited guests but to be seen through the eye of a television camera by 500 million people worldwide.

When the lecturer died in 2020, Charles said: ‘I am deeply saddened to hear of Dr Millward’s death.

‘I have very fond memories of my time in Aberystwyth with Dr Millward over 51 years ago.

‘While I am afraid I might not have been the best student, I learned an immense amount from him about the Welsh language and about the history of Wales.

‘After all these years, I am forever grateful to him for helping foster my deep and abiding love for Wales, her people and her culture.

‘I send my most heartfelt sympathy to his family.’

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