List of Welsh flags

This is a list of flags used exclusively in Wales.

National flags

FlagDateUseDescription
Since 1959 (official)(variants first appeared c.1485)Flag of Wales, also known as Y Ddraig Goch (The Red Dragon)Per fess Argent and Vert, a dragon passant Gules
Since 1921Flag of Saint DavidSable a cross Or

Royal standards

FlagDateUseDescription
Since 1837The Royal Standard, used by Queen Elizabeth II in England, Wales and Northern IrelandA banner of the Queen's Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom, blazoned Quarterly, I and IV Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or; II Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory Gules; III Azure a harp Or stringed Argent
flag of wales (c. 345 - c.567)Standard of the Prince of Wales, used only in WalesA banner based on the arms of the last native Prince of Wales, Llywelyn the Great, with the Prince of Wales's coronet in the centre, blazoned Quarterly Or and Gules four lions passant guardant counterchanged armed and langued Azure, over all an inescutcheon Vert charged with the coronet of the Heir Apparent

Government flags

FlagDateUseDescription
Since 2017The ensign used aboard ships of the Welsh Government, such as the patrol boats of the Marine and Fisheries Division.A British blue ensign including a yellow dragon

Religious

FlagDateUseDescription
Since 1921 Flag of Wales (1702 - 1807)Flag of Saint DavidSable a cross Or - used by the Welsh Christian Party
Since 1954Flag of the Church in WalesArgent a cross Azure a celtic cross proper
1920 – 1954Unofficial Flag of the Church in WalesA reversed Saint David's cross

Historical

Welsh flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1807 – 1953Used from 1807 until 1953.
1953 – 1959Used from 1953 until 1959, depicting the Royal Badge of Wales after its augmentation of honour.

Welsh royal standards

FlagDateUseDescription
1195 – 1378Banner adopted by Owain Glyndŵr and thought to be derived from the counter-charged arms of the princely Houses of Mathrafal and Dinefwr. It is currently in use by the National Eisteddfod for Wales, Cymdeithas yr Iaith and widely amongst pro-independence groupsQuarterly Or and Gules, four Lions rampant counter-charged
1378 – 1702Banner of the princely House of Aberffraw and the Kingdom of Gwynedd famously used by Llywelyn the Great, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and Owain Lawgoch. The Prince of Wales uses a version of this flag today emblazoned with a Crown on a green shieldQuarterly Or and Gules, four Lions passant guardant counter-charged langued and armed Azure
c.987 – c.1034Banner of the princely House of Mathrafal used during the early Middle Ages by the rulers of Powys, Powys Wenwynwyn and later by their heirs the de la Pole (Powysian) dynasty. Modern use is rareOr a Lion rampant Gules langued and armed Azure
c.1034 – c.1195Banner of the princely House of Dinefwr and the Kingdom of Deheubarth, a realm which covered much of south Wales. The banner would have been used during the early Middle Ages and later by the Talbot dynasty who inherited the arms. Modern use is rareGules a Lion rampant Or, a border engrailed of the last
c.897 – 987Banner of the personal arms of Llywelyn ap GruffuddArgent three Lions passant Gules
c.567 – c.897Banner of Madog ap Gruffudd Maelor, and later the Banner of Powys FadogArgent a Lion rampant Sable langued and armed Gules. Often referred to as the Black Lion of Powys.

Battle flags

FlagDateUseDescription
c.1400 – c.1416Banner known as Y Ddraig Aur or "The Golden Dragon" which has ancient origins. It was famously raised over Caernarfon during the Battle of Tuthill in 1401 by Owain GlyndŵrArgent a dragon rampant Or
13th centuryBanner known as Y Groes Nawdd or "The Cross of Neith" said to have been the battle flag of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (d. 1282)Purpure a celtic cross Or

Regions, counties and cities

Traditional counties

Of the 13 historic counties, 7 have flags registered with the Flag Institute, with Brecknockshire, Cardiganshire (Ceredigion), Carmarthenshire, Denbighshire, Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire outstanding.

FlagDateUseDescription
March 2014Flag of AngleseyGules a chevron Or between three lions rampant Or.
Since 2012Flag of CaernarfonshireVert, three eagles displayed in fess Or.
Not yet registeredFlag of CeredigionSable, a lion regardant Or.
Since 2015Flag of FlintshireArgent a Cross engrailed Sable between four Cornish Choughs proper
Since 2013Flag of GlamorganGules, three Chevronels Argent
Since 2015Flag of MerionethshireAzure, three goats rampant Argent, armed and unguled Or; from the dexter base the sun in his splendour issuant Or.
Since 2011Flag of MonmouthshirePer pale Azure and Sable three Fleurs-de-lis Or.
Not yet registeredFlag of MontgomeryshireOr a Lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure.
Since 1988Flag of PembrokeshireAzure a cross Or on an inescutcheon of five Vert a Tudor Rose quarterly counter-changed Argent and Gules.

Principal areas

FlagDateUseDescription
1906Flag of CardiffArgent on a Mount Vert a Dragon rampant Gules supporting in front of a Leek issuing from the Mount a Flag Staff erect proper flying therefrom to the sinister a Banner of the third charged with three Chevronels of the first.
Flag of Monmouthshire (principal area)
1929Flag of NewportOr, a chevron reversed Gules
1922Flag of SwanseaPer Fess wavy Azure and barry wavy of six Argent, of the first a double-towered Castle or, in Chief on an Inescutcheon of the third a Lion passant guardant Gules.

Nationalist flags

Flag Date Use Description
1960sWelsh Republican TricolourA vertical tricolour of green, red and white with a black star representing those who have fallen for their country.
Since 1960sYr Eryr Wen – the White Eagle, used by radical nationalists. The eagle or Eryr is thought to refer to Owain Gwynedd who used an eagle for his coat of arms, and also Snowdonia (called Eryri in Welsh).A stylised white eagle on a black background.
1970sY Ddraig Ddu or "The Black Dragon" used by the Cymru 1400 republican movementThe Red Dragon of Wales on a black field
1960sBanner of the now defunct Meibion Glyndŵr militant pro-independence organisationBanner of Owain Glyndŵr indented with the border of an eldest son

References

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