The Prince of Wales Investiture chair

Mark Lucas

This chair was designed by Lord Snowdon for the investiture of Prince Charles on 1 July 1969. 4,600 of these chairs were made for seating guests inside Caernarfon Castle.

The chair was used by Iorwerth Howells, director of education for Carmarthenshire, who was invited to the investiture as one of the representatives for that county. The frame is made from steamed beech and the seat and back of preformed plywood veneered with olive ash. The whole is stained vermilion and sealed with a clear acid catalyst lacquer. The chairs were made at Remploy factories in Treforest and Wrexham.

Investiture of Prince Charles on 1st July 1969 at Caernarfon Castle

The investiture of Prince Charles on 1 July 1969 at Caernarfon Castle

The fabric is made from Welsh red flannel made by David Lewis Limited of Cambrian Mills in Drefach Felindre, now home to the National Wool Museum. 2,650 yards of cloth were produced at 18/- per yard. The Prince of Wales’s feathers were embossed in gold leaf by the Ferndale Book Company. After the ceremony the chairs were offered for sale at £12.00 each. Invited guests had first refusal and the remaining chairs were sold to the public.

The original sample sent to the department of works for checking

The original sample sent to the department of works for checking

Comments (3)

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Sharman bailey
29 April 2022, 17:40
Can I get some of the red fabric now?
Michael Hocken
22 December 2021, 10:50
Would you have any idea or suggestion where I could obtain a replacement fixing bolt for an Investiture Chair? I bought it at auction recently for friends’ new Cardiff Bay flat, but on receiving it discovered that one bolt was missing. It would be wonderful to be able to replace it and enable the chair to be used as well as stand as a striking feature of their entrance hall! Thanks in advance for any advice you may have. This is a really special and historic artefact with superb Welsh provenance, and it would be wonderful to fully preserve it for future generations. Yours, Michael
jonathan barker
6 February 2021, 14:30
Where can I get a copy of the investiture picture you have used on this page because my wife’s grandfather is in the photo right in front of the Druid’s in white