<P> Nevertheless, according to conventional wisdom, since 1301 the Prince of Wales has usually been the eldest living son (if and only if he is also the heir apparent) of the King or Queen Regnant of England (subsequently of Great Britain, 1707, and of the United Kingdom, 1801). That he is also the heir apparent is important . Following the death of Prince Arthur, the Prince of Wales, Henry VII invested his second son, the future Henry VIII, with the title--although only after it was clear that Arthur's wife, Catherine of Aragon, was not pregnant; when Frederick, Prince of Wales died while his father reigned, George II created Frederick's son George (the king's grandson and new heir apparent) Prince of Wales . The title is not automatic and is not heritable; it merges into the Crown when a prince accedes to the throne, or lapses on his death leaving the sovereign free to re-grant it to the new heir apparent (such as the late prince's son or brother). Prince Charles was created Prince of Wales on 26 July 1958, some six years after he became heir apparent, and had to wait another 11 years for his investiture, on 1 July 1969 . </P> <P> The title Prince of Wales is nowadays always conferred along with the Earldom of Chester . The convention began in 1399; all previous Princes of Wales also received the earldom, but separately from the title of Prince . Indeed, before 1272 a hereditary and not necessarily royal Earldom of Chester had already been created several times, eventually merging in the Crown each time . The earldom was recreated, merging in the Crown in 1307 and again in 1327 . Its creations since have been associated with the creations of the Prince of Wales . </P> <P> On 31 October 1460, Richard of York was briefly created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall and Lord Protector of England by an Act of Parliament following the Act of Accord, as part of his arrangement to succeed Henry VI as king instead of Henry's own son . However Richard was killed in battle soon afterwards . </P> <P> As heir apparent to the reigning sovereign, the Prince of Wales bears the Royal Arms differenced by a white label of three points . To represent Wales he bears the Coat of Arms of the Principality of Wales, crowned with the heir apparent's crown, on an inescutcheon - en - surtout . This was first used by the future King Edward VIII in 1910, and followed by the current Prince of Wales, Prince Charles . </P>

Where did the title prince of wales come from