For over 700 years, the title ‘Prince of Wales’ has been awarded to royal heirs waiting to accede to the throne of England. They did not always achieve it—even the highest in the land have been subject to disease, death and the fortunes of war, or of politics. Others have spent long years waiting for the crown itself, living for decades in the shadow of the throne. Yet all who inhabit this intriguing role have left their stamp upon it, and it has been shaped and relished by some of the greatest personalities of the age.
Princes of Wales explores the stories of history’s most interesting royal heirs, from the charismatic Black Prince and the dissolute Prince Hal to the ill-fated Arthur and the flamboyant Prince Regent—as well as the colorful characters of the 20th century. It shows how the role reflects and defines the spirit of its age, be it medieval chivalry or Tudor mythmaking, Regency excess or 1930s glamour. It charts the legendary battles of sovereigns and their sons (especially over money and marriage) and shows how different characters responded to an evolving role and a changing world. As the present Prince of Wales approaches 60, this is a compelling and sympathetic portrait of those who have enjoyed this uniquely privileged yet often frustrating position—the men who would be king.

For over 700 years, the title ‘Prince of Wales’ has been awarded to royal heirs waiting to accede to the throne of England. They did not always achieve it—even the highest in the land have been subject to disease, death and the fortunes of war, or of politics. Others have spent long years waiting for the crown itself, living for decades in the shadow of the throne. Yet all who inhabit this intriguing role have left their stamp upon it, and it has been shaped and relished by some of the greatest personalities of the age.
Princes of Wales explores the stories of history’s most interesting royal heirs, from the charismatic Black Prince and the dissolute Prince Hal to the ill-fated Arthur and the flamboyant Prince Regent—as well as the colorful characters of the 20th century. It shows how the role reflects and defines the spirit of its age, be it medieval chivalry or Tudor mythmaking, Regency excess or 1930s glamour. It charts the legendary battles of sovereigns and their sons (especially over money and marriage) and shows how different characters responded to an evolving role and a changing world. As the present Prince of Wales approaches 60, this is a compelling and sympathetic portrait of those who have enjoyed this uniquely privileged yet often frustrating position—the men who would be king.