South African gold ore yields just a quarter of a troy ounce for every tonne mined (8 g/Mg). However the South African gold fields are vastly more extensive. Patronage The link between Welsh gold and the British royal family began on 13 July 1911 when Prince Edward was officially invested as Prince of Wales in a ceremony at Caernarfon Castle on the edge of Snowdonia, North Wales. The regalia used at the investiture consisted of a coronet, a rod, a ring, a sword and a mantle with doublet and sash which incorporated Welsh gold. The investiture took place at the initiative of the Welsh politician David Lloyd George, who invented a ceremony in the style of a Welsh pageant, and coached Edward to speak a few words in Welsh. On 1 July 1969, Prince Charles was invested at Caernarfon Castle. The ceremony was an update of the 1911 investiture, and the same regalia was used. Welsh gold has been used to create wedding rings for some members of the Royal family. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, used a Welsh gold ring in her marriage to the Duke of York on 26 April 1923. Queen Elizabeth II's wedding ring was crafted from Welsh gold from the Clogau St. David's mine. Other members of The Royal family to have Welsh gold wedding rings include Princess Anne (1973), Diana, Princess of Wales (1981), King Charles III (1981 & 2005), Catherine, Princess of Wales (2011), Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (2018) and Princess Eugenie (2018). See also Irish gold Scottish gold References External links Wales Underground: Gold Wales calling: Gold Mining in Wales The Geology of the Dolgellau Gold-Belt I. M. Platten and S. C. Dominy (2009) "Geological mapping in the evaluation of structurally controlled gold veins: A case study from the Dogellau gold belt, north Wales, United Kingdom", World Gold Conference 2009, South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, PDF file, accessed 14 November 2010. Mining in Wales Gold mining Gold History of Wales Geology of Wales Gold mining in the United Kingdom