Flag of Wales
National flag of Wales featuring a red dragon on green and white.
The flag of Wales—known in Welsh as *Baner Cymru* or *Y Ddraig Goch* ("the red dragon")—shows a red dragon walking (passant) across a field of green and white. The law does not standardise the dragon’s exact appearance, which is typical for heraldic symbols. The green and white come from the Tudor family colours; Henry VII used a red dragon banner at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, later carrying it in state to St Paul’s Cathedral, and the dragon was added as a supporter to the Tudor royal arms. The flag was officially recognised as the national flag of Wales in 1959.
Quick Facts
- Use
- 111000
- Symbol
- normal 110000
- Proportion
- 3:5
- Adoption
- 1959 (current version)
- Design
- The Welsh Dragon centred on a horizontal bi-colour of white and green
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In the Historia Brittonum (c. 828), a narrative describes King Vortigern being told by Merlin/Ambrosius to dig up two dragons beneath Dinas Emrys: a red dragon representing the Celtic Britons and a white dragon representing the Anglo-Saxons. Merlin/Ambrosius prophesied that the Celtic Britons would reclaim the island. This is the first verifiable attribution of the colour red to the dragon. The story of Lludd a Llefelys in the Mabinogion also describes the red dragon of the Celtic Britons in opposition with the white dragon of the Saxons.
The dragon of Wales was used by numerous Welsh rulers as a propaganda tool to portray links to Arthurian legend, with such rulers titled Y Mab Darogan (The prophesied Son). The Welsh term draig ('dragon') referred to leaders including Owain Gwynedd, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, and Owain Glyndŵr. In 1400, Owain Glyndŵr raised the dragon standard during his revolts; his banner Y Ddraig Aur ('The Golden Dragon') is often associated with his campaign, though the claim that it was raised over Caernarfon in 1401 is not reliably attested in contemporary sources. In 1485, Henry Tudor flew the red dragon during his invasion of England, and after the Battle of Bosworth carried it in state to St Paul's Cathedral.
Reader's Guide
The flag of Wales is a national symbol with roots in early medieval legend and heraldic tradition. Its red dragon motif appears in the 9th-century Historia Brittonum and later in the Mabinogion, where it represents the Celtic Britons in opposition to the white dragon of the Anglo-Saxons. The flag's green and white field derives from the Tudor family colours, and the red dragon was used by Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Despite this long history, the flag was not officially recognised as the Welsh national flag until 1959. Before that, a 1953 badge featuring the red dragon on a green mount with a motto was used but derided for design issues and a double entendre in the motto. The flag's adoption followed advocacy by the Gorsedd of Bards. Today it flies from the Senedd, Welsh Government buildings, and UK Government buildings in Wales. The flag has also appeared in popular culture, including at the 1999 Rugby World Cup, on album art by Roger Waters, and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Black Panther (2018) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). In 2017, Unicode added emoji support for the flag of Wales.
Did You Know?
- The flag of Wales was officially recognised as the Welsh national flag in 1959.
- The red dragon symbol first appears with verifiable red colour in the Historia Brittonum, written c. 828.
- Henry VII carried the red dragon standard in state to St Paul's Cathedral after the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.
- In 2017, Unicode approved emoji support for the flag of Wales following a proposal from Jeremy Burge and Owen Williams.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the dragon on the Welsh flag look like?
The emblem depicts a red dragon shown in a walking pose (heraldic 'passant') set against a divided green-and-white background. The overall design is the national flag of Wales, known in Welsh as Y Ddraig Goch.
Why is the dragon specifically red, and what does that color signify?
In the traditional legend behind the flag, the red dragon stands for the Celtic Britons—the ancestors of the Welsh people—while a white dragon represents the Anglo-Saxon English. The red color thus marks Welsh identity and heritage.
When did the red dragon officially become Wales's national flag?
The flag received its formal recognition as the national flag of Wales in 1959. Its roots, however, stretch back to the Tudor period, when Henry VII carried a red dragon banner at the 1485 Battle of Bosworth and later incorporated it into the royal arms.
Where do the green and white background colors come from?
The green-and-white field traces back to the Tudor family colors. Henry VII, who claimed descent from Welsh princes, used those hues alongside the red dragon in his heraldic devices, and they carried over into the modern flag design.
Is there a legally fixed design for the Welsh dragon, or can artists change how it looks?
Welsh law does not prescribe an exact shape, pose, or style for the dragon, which is consistent with how heraldic symbols are generally treated. This means artists and designers have latitude in rendering the creature, even though the core elements—a red dragon passant on green and white—remain the recognized standard.
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