List of Welsh flags


This is a list of flags used exclusively in Wales.

National flags

Royal standards

Government flags

Religious

Historical

Welsh flags

Welsh royal standards

FlagDateUseDescription
1401 – 1416Banner 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
c.1195 – 1378Banner 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.1100 – c.1400Banner 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 dynasty. Modern use is rareOr a Lion rampant Gules langued and armed Azure
c.1100 – c.1300Banner 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.1240 – 1282Banner of the personal arms of Llywelyn ap GruffuddArgent three Lions passant Gules
c.1160 – c.1350Banner 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 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, 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
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