A ceremonial gown worn by the grandson of a former British prime minister at the 1969 investiture of the then Prince Charles has been unearthed at an antiques roadshow – alongside an original invitation from Queen Elizabeth II.
The remarkable discovery was made when a member of the public brought the items in for valuation, not realising she was carrying a piece of royal history.
The gown belonged to Owen Lloyd George, 3rd Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor – grandson of former prime minister David Lloyd George – who wore it while serving as sword-bearer during the investiture of the future King Charles III at Caernarfon Castle on 1 July 1969.
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The nationally televised ceremony was watched by millions around the world.
Antiques specialist Neil Church spotted the significance of the pieces immediately when they came through the door at a WeBuyVintage roadshow, as reported by What’s The Jam.
The gown, made especially for the Earl and bearing his name on an inside pocket label, had been kept at Ffynone House – the Earl’s former country seat near Boncath, Pembrokeshire – for decades after the ceremony.
The woman who brought it in explained how she had rescued the items after spotting them advertised for sale at the house following its listing on the market.
“In 2021, while searching online for decorative pieces to furnish my home, I saw some items being advertised for sale at Ffynone House, which had just been listed on the market by its subsequent owner,” she said.
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“The owner explained that many historic possessions connected to the Lloyd George family were likely to be discarded, following the sale of the house and its contents. I felt I could not let that happen with the gown and the letter, as these felt like genuine pieces of Welsh history and I wanted to make sure they were preserved.”
Church said the discovery was one that stopped him in his tracks.
“Every so often, something comes through the door that truly stops you in your tracks, and this was one of those moments,” he said. “Far more than an old ceremonial garment, it was a remarkable discovery directly connected to one of the most significant royal and historic moments in modern Welsh history – the investiture of the now King Charles.
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“What made it especially fascinating was its provenance, tracing it back to the grandson of the former prime minister of Britain and the family’s historic country seat, Ffynone House. While we valued it at around £600, its historical significance reaches far beyond its monetary worth.”
The Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor (1924–2010) was offered a prominent role in the ceremony, carrying the ceremonial sword during the event before the gown became his property following its conclusion.
For WeBuyVintage, the find is a reminder that some of Wales’ most significant historical artefacts remain hidden in plain sight.
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