Charles Wasn’t The Only Prince Of Wales Who Waited Decades For His Crown

For more than 700 years, the title of Prince of Wales has been used to designate the heir apparent to the British throne. But not all of the men who have held this title made it to their coronations. And some of those who did waited a lifetime to inherit the honor. As King Charles III is finally crowned aged 73, becoming the oldest person to take the British throne in history, let’s take a look at those who came before him.

The Princes of Wales

After spending 64 years waiting in the wings to become king, Charles III holds the record as the longest-serving prince of Wales. But he’s not the only one to have watched the decades tick by before ascending to the throne. From the ominously named Black Prince to Edward VIII, who eventually abdicated his coveted crown, here are five men who got stuck in the line of succession.

English conquest

Before the 14th century, the title now given to the heir apparent was used exclusively by the royal family of Wales. But when Edward I conquered the territory in 1283 he decided to pass the honor onto his own descendants instead. And in 1301 his son Edward became the first English prince of Wales.

Unfulfilled destiny

Six years later, in 1307, Edward ascended to the throne as Edward II, followed by his son, Edward III, in 1327. And three years after that, another Edward was born. At 12 years old, he was crowned prince of Wales during a ceremony in Westminster. But he would never live to see his destiny fulfilled.

The Black Prince

Known today as the Black Prince, Edward was also the first heir apparent to bear the title Duke of Cornwall — a tradition that continues to this day. And in 1346, while still a teenager, he led his troops to victory at the Battle of Crécy, part of the Hundred Years’ War. In the ensuing carnage, the king of Bohemia was killed.