I recently watched “The Crown” and laughed when Charles asked who Llewellyn ap Gruffudd was, an alumni? I was like, sheesh, I’m an American, and even I know who that is!

Welsh Histories recently highlighted an important point that often goes overlooked: the persistent misconception that Wales is part of England.

While awareness is improving, thanks in part to social media and the internet, this issue still deserves periodic attention to set the record straight.

This resonated with a wide range of experiences people have had over the years, generating over 100 comments in response.

Some expressed frustration at the lack of recognition, while others appreciated the growing awareness.

Morris said, “I usually add, ‘And we have our own language’.”

Hughes added, “I identify as Native American, but my white auntie (Dad’s sister) was really into genealogy. I always knew that I was half Welsh, but Auntie got in touch with someone over there and found that we were descended from Rhodri Mawr.

When I was a kid, in the 60’s, one of my favourite movies was “The Vikings”.

I didn’t know that Rhodri, in the movie, was one of my ancestors. Later I read a series of books by Sharon Kay Penman and loved “Here be Dragons”.

After Auntie started sending us this info, I read more and more. I realized my Welsh ancestors were much like my NA ancestors. And how their language and culture was suppressed, like ours.

I’m old now, but wonder if I had the money to go to Wales and showed up and said, “Hey, cousins!”, if they would look at me weird, lol, this dark skinned American?

I recently watched “The Crown” and laughed when Charles asked who Llewellyn ap Gruffudd was, an alumni? I was like, sheesh, I’m an American, and even I know who that is!

Anywhoo, love my Welsh heritage equally!!! I’ve also been an avid reader since a kid, hid in the library to escape the bullying in the white school I went to.

Understanding the Welsh influence on works like “The Lord of the Rings”, adds so much enjoyment to those works.

As a Native American kid, I was guiltily a bit of an anglophile, I was like, that was the colonizer enemy, I shouldn’t like this. But I loved reading about King Arthur.

Later, after reading stuff like Monmouth’s “History of the Kings of Britain” and other works, like about the Mabinogian (I think that was Evangaline someone or other), I was like, OK, Arthur may have been a Welsh warlord, so I’m okay! Anywhoo, I love this history.”

Oldfield said, “When I was teaching English in Korea. All my students understood the difference. Mostly because of their obsession with Welsh Corgies!”

Watherston added, “I made a new friend from france on an xbox game a few weeks ago. He had never heard of Wales before ”

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Sally George

Sally is a proud wife of a Welshman, editor & writer of Welsh Histories. She’s all about stories—that shout ‘anything Welsh.’ Drop her an email if you have an advice, insight, experience, or a story to share.