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.
