Home › Territories & Regions › Wales

The flag of Wales is Y Ddraig Goch — the Red Dragon: a striking red dragon standing on a field that is white on top and green below. It's one of the most distinctive flags in the world, flown at Welsh sporting events, on St David's Day, and from buildings and homes across the country. Wales is one of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom, alongside England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Red Dragon (Y Ddraig Goch)

The red dragon is one of the oldest symbols associated with Wales, with roots reaching back over a thousand years to Welsh legend and the kings of Gwynedd. The white and green stripes were added by the House of Tudor, the Welsh dynasty that took the English throne. The modern flag was granted official status in 1959. Uniquely among the UK nations, Wales does not appear on the Union Jack — that flag was designed after Wales had already been joined to the Kingdom of England — so the Red Dragon proudly flies as Wales's own.

Wales flag colours

The Wales flag uses three colours — a red dragon on a white and green field. These are the approximate shades if you're recreating it:

Wales flag facts

Frequently asked questions

What does the flag of Wales look like?

It shows a red dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) standing on a two-colour field — white across the top half and green across the bottom half.

What is Y Ddraig Goch?

It's Welsh for "the Red Dragon" — an emblem tied to Wales for over a thousand years. The white and green stripes are the colours of the Welsh Tudor dynasty, and the flag became official in 1959.

Is the Wales flag part of the UK flag?

No — and it's the exception. Wales isn't represented on the Union Jack, because it had already been joined to the Kingdom of England when that flag was designed. The Red Dragon is Wales's own flag.

When is St David's Day?

Wales's national day is 1 March, when the Red Dragon is widely flown.