Gelert's Story

In the 13th century, Prince Llewellyn of Wales
had a favorite hunting dog named Gelert.
Gelert was Llewellyn's constant companion, and often slept
in the nursery to watch over Llewellyn's infant son.

One day, Gelert failed to show up for the hunt.
When Llewellyn returned to his castle that evening,
Gelert came bounding out to meet him,
but he was covered with blood.

Terrified for the safety of his son,
Llewellyn rushed to the nursery
only to find the room splattered with blood and gore,
the cradle overturned ... and no sign of his infant son.

Convinced that Gelert had killed his son,
Llewellyn plunged his sword through the dog's heart.
Gelert's dying cry was answered  by Llewellyn's child,
who had been sleeping under the overturned cradle.

Llewellyn lifted the cradle to reveal his infant son,
alive and unharmed. Beside the cradle,
he found the mangled body of a great wolf that
Gelert had slain to save the life of Llewellyn's heir.

Llewellyn carried Gelert's body in his arms outside the walls
of the castle and buried him there. Today, this place is called
Beddgelert (which means "Gelert's Grave" in Welsh).

George and Carol shed a tear at Gelert's Grave

Legend tells us that Prince Llewellyn never smiled again.