List of Welsh flags

Three Welsh flags, as flown in Caernarfon. Top to bottom: Owain Glyndŵr flag, Flag of Saint David, and the Flag of Wales.
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This is a list of flags that are used exclusively in Wales. Other flags used in Wales, as well as the rest of the United Kingdom can be found at list of British flags.

National flags

Flag Date Use Description
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
A vertical per fess Argent and Vert, a dragon passant Gules
Since 1921 Flag of Saint David Sable a cross Or

Royal standards of the United Kingdom

Flag Date Use Description
Since 1837 The Royal Standard, used by King Charles III in England, Wales and Northern Ireland A banner of the King'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
Standard of the Prince of Wales, used only in Wales A 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

Flag Date Use Description
Since 2017 The ensign used aboard ships of the Welsh Government, such as the patrol boats of the Marine and Fisheries Division.[1] A British blue ensign defaced with a yellow dragon
Flag of Senedd Cymru.[2] White with the logo of Senedd Cymru in red

Religious

Flag Date Use Description
Since 1921 Flag of Saint David Sable a cross Or
Since 1954 Flag of the Church in Wales Argent a cross Azure a celtic cross proper
1920 – 1954 Unofficial Flag of the Church in Wales A reversed Saint David's cross

Dioceses of the Church in Wales

Flag Date Use Description
Flag of the Diocese of Bangor A banner of the Diocese's coat of arms.
Flag of the Diocese of St Asaph A banner of the Diocese's coat of arms.
Flag of the Diocese of St Davids A banner of the Diocese's coat of arms.
Flag of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon A banner of the Diocese's coat of arms.

Historical

Welsh flags

Flag Date Use Description
1807 – 1953 Used from 1807 until 1953.
1953 – 1959 Used from 1953 until 1959, depicting the Royal Badge of Wales after its augmentation of honour.

Welsh royal standards

Flag Date Use Description
1195 – 1378 Banner 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 groups Quarterly Or and Gules, four Lions rampant counter-charged
1100 – 1378 Banner 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 shield Quarterly Or and Gules, four Lions passant guardant counter-charged langued and armed Azure
c.987 – c.1034 Banner 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 rare Or a Lion rampant Gules langued and armed Azure
c.1034 – c.1195 Banner 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 rare Gules a Lion rampant Or, a border engrailed of the last
c.1267 - 1282 Banner of the personal arms of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd Argent three Lions passant Gules
c.567 – c.897 Banner of Madog ap Gruffudd Maelor, and later the Banner of Powys Fadog Argent a Lion rampant Sable langued and armed Gules. Often referred to as the Black Lion of Powys.

Battle flags

Flag Date Use Description
c.1400 – c.1416 Banner 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 Glyndŵr Argent a dragon rampant Or
13th century Banner 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

Religious flags

Flag Date Use Description
pre – 1954 Unofficial flag of the Diocese of Bangor An inverted Saint David's Cross with the arms of the Diocese in the canton.
pre – 1954 Unofficial flag of the Diocese of Llandaff An inverted Saint David's Cross with the arms of the Diocese in the canton.
pre – 1954 Unofficial flag of the Diocese of Monmouth An inverted Saint David's Cross with the arms of the Diocese in the canton.
pre – 1954 Unofficial flag of the Diocese of St Asaph An inverted Saint David's Cross with the arms of the Diocese in the canton.
pre – 1954 Unofficial flag of the Diocese of St Davids An inverted Saint David's Cross with the arms of the Diocese in the canton.
pre – 1954 Unofficial flag of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon An inverted Saint David's Cross with the arms of the Diocese in the canton.

Other flags

Flag Date Use Description
1910–1913 Variant flag of Wales used during the British Antarctic Expedition.[3]

Regions, counties and cities

Traditional counties

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

Flag Date Use Description
March 2014[4] Flag of Anglesey Gules a chevron Or between three lions rampant Or.
Not yet registered De facto flag of Brecknockshire Sable a bat Azure displayed on a fess cottised Or.
Since 2012[5] Flag of Caernarfonshire Vert, three eagles displayed in fess Or.
Not yet registered De facto flag of Cardiganshire Sable, a lion regardant Or.
Since 2015[6] Flag of Flintshire Argent a Cross fleury engrailed Sable between four Cornish Choughs proper
Since 2013[7] Flag of Glamorgan Gules, three Chevronels Argent
Since 2015[8] Flag of Merionethshire Azure, three goats rampant Argent, armed and unguled Or; from the dexter base the sun in his splendour issuant Or.
Since 2011[9] Flag of Monmouthshire Per pale Azure and Sable three Fleurs-de-lis Or.
Since 1988[10] Flag of Pembrokeshire Azure a cross Or on an inescutcheon of five Vert a Tudor Rose quarterly counter-changed Argent and Gules.

Cities, towns and villages

See also: Local government in Wales
Flag Date Use Description
1906[11] Flag of Cardiff Argent 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.
2013[12] Flag of Craig-y-Dorth Two golden wyverns couchant facing each other as in battle; one on a blue background and the other on a red background.
2022[13] Flag of Llandovery
2015[14] Flag of Monmouth
2022[15] Flag of St Asaph
2013[16] Flag of Tywyn

University flags

Flag Date Use Description
Flag of Bangor University[17]
Flag of Swansea University A banner of the University's coat of arms.
Flag of Wrexham University (Glyndŵr University) A banner of the University's coat of arms.

House flags

Flag Date Use Description
House flag of Cory Brothers A horizontal bicolour of white and green, defaced in the centre with a pink Welsh dragon holding two overlapping black diamonds (representing lumps of coal) with a smaller white diamond (inscribed with the name "CORY BROTHERS") in the middle.[18]
1882–1981 House flag of Evan Thomas, Radcliffe and Company

Nationalist flags

Flag Date Use Description
1950s–1960s Flag of the Welsh Republican Movement[19] A vertical tricolour of green, red and white.
1960s Welsh Republican Tricolour[19] A vertical tricolour of green, red and white with a black star representing those who have fallen for their country.
1960s Flag of the Free Wales Army A stylised white eagle on a black background. Produced by Welsh republican poet, Harri Webb.[20][21]
1960s Banner of Meibion Glyndŵr, militant nationalist organisation Banner of Owain Glyndŵr indented with the border of an eldest son.
Cofiwch Dryweryn flag The slogan "Cofiwch Dryweryn" ('remember Tryweryn') in white on a field of red.
1970s Flag of the Welsh Patriotic Front[22] A horizontal tricolour of white, red and green, with a black band in the hoist containing a gold Y Nod Cyfrin.
1970s Y Ddraig Ddu or "The Black Dragon" used by the Cymru 1400 republican movement The Red Dragon of Wales on a black field.
2020s Flag of Mudiad Eryr Wen, Welsh nationalist youth movement[23] A horizontal Welsh republican tricolour, accompanied by a vertical black stripe on the left featuring Harri Webb's Eryr Wen at the top.

References

  1. ^ Flag Institute Flagmaster Issue 160
  2. ^ "The Senedd turns blue, red and white as Wales shows its solidarity with France". 14 November 2015.
  3. ^ Phillips, Elen. "Captain Scott's Welsh Flag". Amgueddfa Cymru.
  4. ^ "Anglesey Flag | Free official image and info | UK Flag Registry". The Flag Institute. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Caernarfonshire Flag | Free official image and info | UK Flag Registry". The Flag Institute. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Flintshire Flag | Free official image and info | UK Flag Registry". The Flag Institute. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Glamorgan Flag | Free official image and info | UK Flag Registry". The Flag Institute. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Merioneth Flag | Free official image and info | UK Flag Registry". The Flag Institute. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Monmouthshire Flag | Free official image and info | UK Flag Registry". The Flag Institute. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Pembrokeshire Flag | Free official image and info | UK Flag Registry". The Flag Institute. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Cardiff Flag | Free official image and info | UK Flag Registry". The Flag Institute. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Craig-y-Dorth Flag | Free official image and info | UK Flag Registry". The Flag Institute. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Carmarthenshire town unfurls new flag as part of effort to promote its history". Nation.Cymru. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Monmouth Flag | Free official image and info | UK Flag Registry". The Flag Institute. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  15. ^ "St Asaph (Denbighshire)". The Flag Institute. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Tywyn Flag | Free official image and info | UK Flag Registry". The Flag Institute. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  17. ^ Jonathan Dixon (19 September 2010). "Bangor University (Wales, United Kingdom)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  18. ^ "House flag, Cory Brothers". Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  19. ^ a b Lewis, Anthony (11 November 2005). "Anthony Lewis". Independent.co.uk.
  20. ^ Stephens, Meic (11 November 2005). "Anthony Lewis, Militant Welsh Nationalist". Independent.co.uk.
  21. ^ Vittle, Arwel (8 May 2019). Dim Croeso '69 (in Welsh). Wales: Y Lolfa. p. 46. ISBN 9781784617103.
  22. ^ David B. Lawrence (19 February 2007). "Welsh separatist and independentist flags: Patriotic Front flag". Flags of the World. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  23. ^ "The grassroots youth movement for an independent Cymru". www.eryrwen.org. 30 April 2025.
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