At Caernarfon - Edward I of England Declares His Day Old Son as the Prince of Wales and Thus the First Pretender to the Welsh Throne

In 1282 Edward, King of England was determined to achieve total victory, although the cost in time, effort and money, undoubtedly caused him dismay. Edward attacked Llywelyn from the South, from the East and from the sea.

King Edward I of England, having completed the conquest of Wales, gave the title to his heir, Prince Edward (later King Edward II of England). According to a famous legend, the king had promised the rebellious Welsh natives that he would name a prince born in Wales, who did not speak a word of English and then produced his infant son to their surprise (and presumable chagrin); but the story may well be apocryphal, as it can only be traced to the 16th century. However, Edward II certainly was born at Caernarfon while his father was campaigning in Wales, and like all infants, could not at the time speak English. (Indeed, growing up in the royal court over the succeeding years his first language may well have been Norman French, not English.)

Caernarfon Castle was constructed at Caernarfon in North Wales by King Edward I of England, following his successful conquest of the principality. A legend states that his son, later Edward II of England was born here in 1284, but there is no contemporary evidence.

The Heir Apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom (and formerly Kingdom of Great Britain, and England) is traditionally invested with the title of Prince of Wales.