Want to keep up to date on Welsh politics? Sign up and get political news sent straight to your inbox Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The outspoken England coach Eddie Jones sparked controversy ahead of the 2017 Six Nations clash between Wales and England by questioning whether Wales is actually a country.

With a wry smile Jones labelled Wales a “Principality” while comparing the country to South Africa.

He said: “They’re countries where rugby is the main sport and the support is absolutely fever pitch. And the results affect the country, in South Africa’s case, and in Wales’ case, the Principality.”

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a Principality is the state, office or authority of a prince, and the territory or jurisdiction of a prince.

Is Wales a country?

Yes, Wales is country and not a Principality. Although Wales shares a border with England and is part of Great Britain, Wales is a country in its own right.

Wales was officially recognised as a country in December 2011 by the influential International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) - but it hasn’t really been a Principality for hundreds of years.

Despite the relatively recent recognition of Wales as a country, even though it has its own National Assembly, anthem, language and our own rugby and football teams, it hasn’t been a Principality since the 16th century.

The change by ISO came after the institute referred to Wales as a Principality in a newsletter, prompting Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood AM to launch a campaign for the status to be changed.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

AM Wood said at the time: “Wales is a country and has been for a long time.

“Now that we have proper lawmaking powers for our legislature, I think it is time we consigned any references of Wales being a principality to the rubbish bin.

“To some people this matter may seem inconsequential but there is a lot of misunderstanding and ignorance about Wales, especially outside of Europe.

“Inaccuracies like the one printed in the last edition of the ISO Newsletter, no matter how esoteric the publication is, can engender a false impression of Wales and fuel ignorance.

“Furthermore, given that this document was circulated to a key council of the United Nations, it had the potential to damage our reputation on an international stage among a select band of very influential people.”

When was Wales a Principality?

In the thirteenth century the Princes of Gwynedd ruled most of north and west Wales.

They were called Princes of Wales, although the Prince sometimes had to swear an oath of allegiance to the King of England.

At the Council of Aberdyfi in 1216, the other Welsh princes agreed that Llywelyn the Great was their main leader.

The King of England then agreed that Llywelyn’s heirs and successors would be known as the Prince Of Wales.

Welsh independence ended when Edward I conquered the Principality between 1277 and 1283.

After that, there were two Principalities in Wales – Gwynedd in the north, Cardigan and Carmarthen in the south – ruled by the English king.

The rest of Wales was ruled by the Marcher Lords.

So maybe Wales wasn’t really a country in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries (apart from a brief time under Owain Glyndwr).

But the Acts of Union in 1536 and 1542 actually made us a country again.

They reunited the Principalities and the Marches into one country, Wales.

They gave us a defined border with England and separate, different legal and administrative systems.

All this was run by the Council in the Marches of Wales, a sort of forerunner of the Welsh Office.

The Council in the Marches was done away with in the seventeenth century and Wales came more under the control of the Westminster government .

Since this point, there has been no geographical or constitutional reason to describe any part of Wales as a country except informally and in relation to the Prince of Wales.

The title of Prince of Wales has existed since 1301, and the title given to the eldest son of each English monarch.

The current holder is Prince Charles, and the title does create some confusion about Wales being a Principality - but the title does not give him any role in the governance of Wales.

Although still a country in every sense, before September 1997 Wales was governed by the UK government based in London.

Following the vote for devolution a National Assembly was created, and the Government of Wales Act 2006 gave the country even more powers.

The information in this article was confirmed by Professor of Ecclesiastical History at University of South Wales, Madeleine Gray PhD.