EVERYDAY BRITISH THINGS

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 373.

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUKE OF CORNWALL

The Prince of Wales is the title which is given to the king's (queen's) eldest son when he becomes 18. The origin of this title goes back to the time of Edward I. When Edward I destroyed Welsh independence in the war of 1282 - 1283, he created an unwritten law making the eldest son of an English king the Prince of Wales. The king's son inherits title of Prince of Wales at a special ceremony and automatically is pronounced king when the old king dies. Hence we have the saying «The king is dead, long live the king!»

Since 1337 the king's eldest son has been born the Duke of Cornwall. Cornwall was a Celtic territory created by Edward III who gave his eldest son the Black Prince that title.

Thus the eldest King's son has been born the Duke of Cornwall and at the age of 18 receives the title of Prince of Wales, a Regent is appointed to rule the country until the Duke reaches the age of 18.

The tradition still lives though it is not quite popular in Wales.

You often hear the things below mentioned in Britain. Do you know what they are? Match them with their explanations (right).

1. The Independent - a. the financial centre of London

2. 10 Downing Street - b. the primary parliamentary chamber

3. Mr Blair - c. a national daily newspaper

4. The House of Commons - d. the Prime Minister's residence in London

5. Coronation Street - e. the Clock Tower in London

6. The City - f. the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

7. MP - g. a Member of the House of Commons

8. bobby - h. a British policeman

9. Big Ben - i. British most popular television programme, a

long running drama about he lives of neighbours

in a town in northern England