A ceremonial gown worn during the investiture of the then Prince
Charles at Caernarfon Castle in 1969 has been rediscovered in
Wales, alongside an original invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to
participate in the historic event.
The remarkable find was made at an antiques roadshow in
Saundersfoot, where a member of the public brought in what
initially appeared to be an old ceremonial robe. It was quickly
identified as a garment belonging to Owen Lloyd George, 3rd Earl
Lloyd George of Dwyfor, who played a prominent role in the
investiture ceremony watched by millions around the world.
The Earl, grandson of former Prime Minister David Lloyd George,
was selected to carry the ceremonial sword during the investiture
on 1 July 1969, when Prince Charles was formally invested as Prince
of Wales at Caernarfon Castle.
Among the items discovered was the red ceremonial gown worn by
the Earl during the proceedings. A personalised label sewn into an
interior pocket confirmed its ownership, while accompanying
paperwork included the original invitation sent by Queen Elizabeth
II requesting his participation in the ceremony.
The artefacts surfaced more than half a century after the event
after being rescued from Ffynone House, the Lloyd George family’s
former country residence near Boncath in Pembrokeshire.
The current owner said she acquired the items in 2021 after
learning that a number of historic possessions connected to the
family could be discarded during the sale of the house and its
contents.
She explained that the gown and invitation immediately stood out
as objects of genuine historical significance.
“I felt I could not let that happen,” she said. “These felt like
important pieces of Welsh history and deserved to be
preserved.”
The discovery was made by antiques specialist Neil Church during
a WeBuyVintage valuation event in west Wales.
Mr Church said the find was among the most historically
significant items he had encountered.
“Every so often something appears that immediately captures your
attention,” he said. “This was far more than an old ceremonial
garment. It is directly connected to one of the defining royal
events of the twentieth century in Wales.”
He added that the connection to the Lloyd George family gave the
items an additional layer of historical importance.
Although valued at approximately £600, he said their
significance extended well beyond any commercial worth.
Photographs from the 1969 investiture show the Earl wearing the
gown while carrying the ceremonial sword during the elaborate
proceedings at Caernarfon Castle.
For those involved in the discovery, the find serves as a
reminder that historically important artefacts can still emerge
from private homes and collections decades after major national
events.
