Royal Wedding Monopoly: Llanfair PG causes headache

Designers managed to fit all 58 characters on one board "square"

The makers of the latest edition of Monopoly say fitting Wales' longest place name on the board gave them one of their biggest headaches yet.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch has been squeezed into just one "square" on the new Isle of Anglesey version of the game.

"Getting the name on just the one site proved immense," said Winning Moves UK.

The edition, launching next week, was inspired by the wedding of the island-dwelling Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Commonly referred to as Llanfair PG or Llanfairpwll, the Anglesey town is recognised across the world for its full, 58-character spelling.

It has claimed the longest railway station name in the UK, and also the longest single word internet domain name in the world.

In the new version of the game, to be officially launched next week, the town has been sited on the "square" used in the traditional version by a station with a much shorter name - King's Cross.

"This was one of our biggest challenges," said Winning Moves UK's licensing director Mark Hauser.

Bilingual

Publicist Graham Barnes revealed that the makers originally considered using one of the shortened versions of the town's name.

"We took counsel and the public by a majority seemed to suggest the long version," he said. "We consulted a lot of people.

The locations to be used on the board were determined by the votes of island residents, explained Mr Barnes.

"When the votes came in from the public as to which landmarks and areas of island should be on the board some came in as Llanfair PG, some with the longer name," he said.

"One member of the polling public suggested we put the name over a set of three sites.

The bilingual Anglesey edition of the game, which follows ones based on Swansea and Cardiff, was first mooted after the announcement of Prince William's engagement to Kate Middleton, said Mr Barnes.

After their April wedding, the royal couple have settled into life on Anglesey

With the Duke of Cambridge working as an RAF rescue helicopter pilot based at RAF Valley, the royal couple have made their first home on the island, boosting its profile.

"Anglesey was always on our radar," said Mr Barnes. "The royal wedding meant we did now rather than later and the public - from polls and inquiries about the game - certainly seem delighted.

"We have had expat inquiries from all over world."

Alun Mummery, chair of Llanfair PG council, said he was delighted with the efforts of the game's makers.

"Anything that promotes the name and brings in people is great," he said. "Anything that boosts Anglesey is important and Llanfair PG is the gateway to the island."

• The town's name translates into English as "St Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool and the church of St Tysilio with a red cave".