This enduring design was conceived in a stark vermillion red by Lord Snowdon for the Investiture ceremony of Charles, Prince of Wales, on 1 July 1969. Snowdon had been enlisted by HM Queen Elizabeth to oversee the design of the ceremony, establishing a progressive image of the modern monarchy during a period of strain for the Union. Snowdon, of Welsh ancestry, worked with Carl Toms (who had been mentored by Oliver Messel) and John Pound to design an Investiture chair which boldly combined traditional and contemporary modes. Welsh red flannel upholstery (manufactured by David Lewis Ltd. of Cambrian Mills) and embossed heraldic gilding were applied to a modernist flat-pack frame of ash, elm, and laminated plywood, stained a bright vermillion. A clear acid catalyst lacquer was used to seal the chairs, to prevent discolouration in the event of rain. The chairs were manufactured by the Remploy factory in Bridgend, employing a disabled workforce through a welfare-to-work scheme. Some 4,600 chairs were produced for the guests seated within the castle, who were able to purchase the chairs after the ceremony. The present example retains the original cushion of Welsh tweed, with a gold bullion braided edge and tassels, and central heraldic button decorated with the Prince of Wales’ feathers. The celebrated chair is an interior design favourite: a pair of Investiture chairs owned by Lord Snowdon himself sold at Christie’s in 2020 for £43,700.

Snowdon’s involvement in the design of the event was considerable. Created Constable of Caernarfon Castle for the ceremony, he recruited the brutalist designer John Pound of the Ministry of Works, who drew up the plans for the royal seat. During preparations for the ceremony, it transpired that the Investiture coronet - made for Prince Edward - was missing and was feared melted down, and a new coronet was designed to a starkly modern design. The coronet had in fact been taken with King Edward upon his abdication in 1936, and recovered after his death in 1972. Snowdown (with a renowned photographic instinct) developed the arrangement to benefit television broadcast, with an open slate dais and large Perspex canopy allowing a clear sight of the proceedings. The event was broadcast to 500 million people worldwide. In addition to the 4,600 attending guests, the town itself received 90,000 visitors.

The tradition of investing the heir apparent of the British throne dates to 1284, when Edward I bestowed the title of Prince of Wales to his eldest son, Edward of Caernarfon (later Edward II), following the English conquest of Wales. The ceremonial investiture of the Prince of Wales developed customarily over the following centuries: Frederick, Prince of Wales, had a coronet made in 1728, used also by George III and George IV. This was later replaced by the Coronet of George, Prince of Wales (George V). The ceremony was revived by George V in 1911 for his son Prince Edward, the invented ceremony requiring a new coronet, ring, rod, sword, girdle and cloak. Charles was aged only 20 when he became the 21st heir to receive the title of Prince of Wales, and the ceremony in 1969 followed a formal appointment by letters patent in July 1958. Charles spent some ten weeks in preparation for the ceremony by studying Welsh culture and language under Edward Millward at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He embarked on a four-day tour of the country in the days which followed.