Prince Charles is the 21st English Prince of Wales. The first was Edward II, born in 1284, and formally created Prince of Wales by his father Edward I in 1301. The Queen’s eldest son, Prince Charles, was created Prince of Wales on 26 July 1958, aged nine, when The Queen announced: ‘I intend to create my son, Charles, Prince of Wales, today. When he is grown up I will present him to you at Caernarvon.’ On 1 July 1969 the formal investiture took place, during which the Prince pledged his allegiance to the people of Wales: ‘I, Charles, Prince of Wales, do become your liege man of life and limb.’