Prince Charles came face-to-face with his ancestor King Charles I when he visited Llancaiach Fawr Manor House earlier today, Tuesday, July 11.
HRH The Prince of Wales visited the living museum, near Nelson, to open a new exhibition about the English Civil War and the manor house’s history.
While there he was met by King Charles I and Oliver Cromwell – also known as historical actors Mark Wallis and Steve Purbrick.
Mr Wallis, who plays the King each year at Llancaiach Fawr as part of a re-enactments of a 1645 visit.At the height of the English Civil War, the King is said to have visited the house to persuade its owner, Colonel Edward Prichard, not to change his allegiance.
The Prince was full of smiles and cheer as staff, each in full character, recreated the year 1645 as he toured the manor house.
Arriving just after noon, Prince Charles was met by school children from nearby Greenhill Primary, Glyn-Gaer Primary, Llancaeach Juniors, and Llanfabon Infants.
Diane Walker, Manager at Llancaiach Fawr, escorted Prince Charles for the entirety of his visit explaining historical details and telling him about a recent £1 million conservation project which has transformed the attraction – stripping out modern features and returning it to as it was in 1645.
She said: “We’ve known about the visit since April. It was plenty of time to get things sorted and to work out how we were going to showcase the new exhibition, the interior of the house, and the garden.
“The Prince thoroughly enjoyed it and I have to say it has been a pleasure for me. I started here 12 years ago to the day and when I started I wanted to get all the modern expressions, such as the light fittings, taken out.
“This is the pinnacle of my career, if I am entirety honest and delighted to share it with the Prince of Wales. I’ve wanted to share this place with him from the beginning.
“He really got into the visit and tried to use the 17th Century speech [as spoken by the staff] and get into the spirit of it all – which was a delight.”
Don’t miss our full report and more photographs from the visit in next week’s print edition of Caerphilly Observer, out on Thursday, July 20.
A nice bit of hokum but Prince Charles does not have King Charles I as an ‘ancestor’ any more than I do; they are from different families. King Charles was a Stuart and Prince Charles is descended from the Saxe Coburg Gothas, or so I was taught in school.
This is a common mistake, many people believe there is an unbroken royal line that has been handed down since Norman times. In reality the crown has changed hands between several families for political reasons.One of the Duke of Wellingtons best units at the battle of Waterloo was the ‘King’s German Legion’ or KGL. Why were Germans serving in the British Army? Because we both were ruled by the same king, George III – at least, that is, the area of Germany called Hannover.
Sophia of Hanover who is a direct ancestor of Prince Charles was a grand daughter of James 1st who was the father of Charles 1 so they are of the same family.
That is correct Phil but an ancestor means ‘One who you are desended from, a forebear’ and Prince Charles is definitely not descended from King Charles I. He is a distant relative.
omg so cool also tarin and franchesca look so cute (i go to llancaeach junior school)