I apologise if I appear to have been misleading.

I was simply trying to point out that local loyalties can subsume wider ones which is why states or constituent countries of a greater whole like to have a wide degree of autonomy.

It is nothing to do with what citizenship shows on your passport which will reflect in any case the greater whole - US, UK, Canada or whatever.

In the case of Wales, as Phil points out, there never was a formal act of union - that same "proud Edward whose army was sent hamewards tae think again" foisted his eldest son as Prince of Wales and hence started the tradition of the male heir to the throne having this title. The "investiture" thing is much more modern!

Devolution is an ongoing process and Y Cynilliad Cymru - Welsh Assembly will gradually get more powers and become a Parliament like the Scottish one.

Such powers have been enjoyed by individual states (or provinces) for years or indeed centuries on the continent of North America - over here we are finally catching up!