Blackstone, in his _Commentaries_, vol. i. p. 224., says, the heir
apparent to the crown is usually made Prince of Wales and Earl of
Chester; upon which Mr. Christian in a note remarks, upon the authority
of Hume, that this creation has not been confined to the heir apparent,
for both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were created by their father,
Henry VIII., Princesses of Wales, each of them at the time (the latter
after the legitimation of Mary) being heir presumptive to the crown.
Can any of your correspondents inform me upon what authority this
statement of Hume rests? or whether there exists any evidence of such
creations having been made? Do any such creations appear upon the Patent
Rolls? The statement is not supported by any writer of authority upon
such subjects, and, as far as your Querist's investigation has
proceeded, seems without foundation. It is one, however, too important
in connexion with royal titles to remain uncontradicted, if the fact be
not so.