Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 11th Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir David Watkin Williams-Wynn, 11th Baronet of Bodelwyddan
in the County of Flint (Wales
), and of Gray's Inn in the county of Middlesex (London), (born 1940) is a member of the surviving Welsh
nobility and is the closest known living heir of the Princely House of Aberffraw
, the former ruling family of Gwynedd
and the Principality of Wales
, who were deposed in the 1282 Edwardian Conquest of Wales.
His direct ancestors, the Williams family
, were an important parliamentary and landowning family from Denbighshire
, north Wales
, who in the 17th Century married into the famous Wynn family of Gwydir
, the direct patrilineal descendants of Owain Gwynedd
, Prince of Gwynedd 1137–1170, and the only surviving branch of that dynasty. On the death of Sir John Wynn in 1719, his direct heiress Jane Thelwall inherited the Wynnstay estate and the claim to the Aberffraw legacy, and her husband Watkins Williams adopted the "Wynn" family name (thought to be derived from Gwynedd) in honour of his wife's princely heritage.
Sir David continues to live within the bounds of lower Gwynedd
, in St. Asaph, Denbighshire
, Wales
and takes an active part in local and country life. In particular he was President of the Denbigh & Flint Agricultural Show in 1992. In 2008 he was in the news because it was widely reported that his daughter Alexandra - a sculptor and student at the Royal Academy of Arts - had modelled nude for the famous artist Lucian Freud
. Eventually he will be succeeded by his son Charles Edward Watkin Williams-Wynn (born 1970), (who might be known as Iorwerth I, the name Edward translated into Welsh). In the continued discussion of potential Welsh independence his name is occasionally brought forward as a theoretical candidate in Welsh monarchy scenarios.
Bodelwyddan
Bodelwyddan is a village and community in Denbighshire, Wales now bypassed by the A55 road. It has a population of 2,106. The village lies east of Abergele, south of Rhyl, and north west of Ruthin....
in the County of Flint (Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
), and of Gray's Inn in the county of Middlesex (London), (born 1940) is a member of the surviving Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
nobility and is the closest known living heir of the Princely House of Aberffraw
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Gwynedd was one petty kingdom of several Welsh successor states which emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain in the Early Middle Ages, and later evolved into a principality during the High Middle Ages. It was based on the former Brythonic tribal lands of the Ordovices, Gangani, and the...
, the former ruling family of Gwynedd
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Gwynedd was one petty kingdom of several Welsh successor states which emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain in the Early Middle Ages, and later evolved into a principality during the High Middle Ages. It was based on the former Brythonic tribal lands of the Ordovices, Gangani, and the...
and the Principality of Wales
Principality of Wales
The Principality of Wales existed between 1216 and 1542, encompassing two-thirds of modern Wales.It was formally founded in 1216 at the Council of Aberdyfi, and later recognised by the 1218 Treaty of Worcester between Llywelyn the Great of Wales and Henry III of England...
, who were deposed in the 1282 Edwardian Conquest of Wales.
His direct ancestors, the Williams family
Williams-Wynn Baronets
The Williams-Wynn Baronetcy, of Gray's Inn in the County of Middlesex in the Baronetage of England, and of Bodelwyddan in the County of Flint in the Baronetage of Great Britain, are two titles held jointly since 1880.- Creation :...
, were an important parliamentary and landowning family from Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, north Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, who in the 17th Century married into the famous Wynn family of Gwydir
Sir John Wynn, 5th Baronet
Sir John Wynn, 5th Baronet succeeded his cousin Sir Richard Wynn, 4th Baronet as a baronet in 1674 but did not inherit the lands of the Gwydyr Estate which passed to his predecessor's daughter Mary.-Inheritance:...
, the direct patrilineal descendants of Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd , in English also known as Owen the Great, was King of Gwynedd from 1137 until his death in 1170. He is occasionally referred to as "Owain I of Gwynedd"; and as "Owain I of Wales" on account of his claim to be King of Wales. He is considered to be the most successful of...
, Prince of Gwynedd 1137–1170, and the only surviving branch of that dynasty. On the death of Sir John Wynn in 1719, his direct heiress Jane Thelwall inherited the Wynnstay estate and the claim to the Aberffraw legacy, and her husband Watkins Williams adopted the "Wynn" family name (thought to be derived from Gwynedd) in honour of his wife's princely heritage.
Sir David continues to live within the bounds of lower Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
, in St. Asaph, Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and takes an active part in local and country life. In particular he was President of the Denbigh & Flint Agricultural Show in 1992. In 2008 he was in the news because it was widely reported that his daughter Alexandra - a sculptor and student at the Royal Academy of Arts - had modelled nude for the famous artist Lucian Freud
Lucian Freud
Lucian Michael Freud, OM, CH was a British painter. Known chiefly for his thickly impasted portrait and figure paintings, he was widely considered the pre-eminent British artist of his time...
. Eventually he will be succeeded by his son Charles Edward Watkin Williams-Wynn (born 1970), (who might be known as Iorwerth I, the name Edward translated into Welsh). In the continued discussion of potential Welsh independence his name is occasionally brought forward as a theoretical candidate in Welsh monarchy scenarios.