What's the OFFICIAL status of the Welsh Dragon Flag?

Question

There was talk about the Queen stating something about it's official status in the 1950's but can't find that info or link to the facts.

Answer 1

The national flag of Wales is The Red Dragon, consisting of a red dragon, passant, on a green and white field. As with any heraldic charge, the exact representation of the dragon is not standardised and many interpretations exist. The flag was granted official status in 1959, but the red dragon itself has been associated with Wales for centuries; indeed, the flag is sometimes claimed to be the oldest national flag still in use, though the origin of the adoption of the dragon symbol is now lost in history and myth.

A plausible theory is that the Romans brought the emblem to what is now Wales during their occupation of Britain in the form of the Draco standards borne by the Roman cavalry, itself inspired by the symbols of the Dacians or Parthians. The green and white stripes of the flag were additions by the House of Tudor, the Welsh dynasty that held the English throne from 1485 to 1603. Green and white are also the colours of the leek, another national emblem of Wales.

Many legends are associated with the Welsh dragon. The most famous is the prophecy of Myrddin (or Merlin) of a long fight between a red dragon and a white dragon. According to the prophecy, the white dragon would at first dominate but eventually the red dragon would win, this eventual victory and recapturing of Lloegr would be, according to Welsh legend, brought about by Y Mab Darogan. This is believed to represent the conflict in the 5th and 6th centuries between the British Celts (who later became the Welsh) and the invading Saxons.

The Welsh Flag is the only flag of the constituent countries of the UK not to be used in the Union Flag. Wales had no explicit recognition in the flag because Wales had been annexed by Edward I of England in 1282 and, since the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542, was considered to be a part of the Kingdom of England. There have since been proposals to include the Dragon or the flag of Saint David (itself a cross) on the Union Flag, but these have not met with much support.

Answer 2

The Welsh flag is often called "Y Ddraig Goch" for it has a red dragon on a green and white field. The origin of this symbol is found in early Welsh legend and history, namely the Historia Brittonum, "Cyfranc Lludd a Lleuelys," and Historia Regnum Britanniae.

The red dragon symbolizes the original Britons (now the Welsh) as a sort of totem animal, as demonstrated in two related stories. The first, "Cyfranc Lludd a Lleuelys" (which is found in a later text than the second) says that King Lludd was oppressed by a shriek every May Eve. His brother Lleuelys informs him that it is two dragons, one representing Britain, the other representing an invading nation. Lludd buries the two dragons at Dinas Emrys, and puts the land at peace.

However, the second story--found in three sources, the Historia Brittonum, Historia Regnum Britianniae, and The Welsh Triads, we are told that King Vortigern wanted to build a fort at Dinas Emrys, and is told by Ambrosius (or Merlin in the HRB) that he must dig up the two dragons. At this point, the dragon of the Britons is identified as red, while the other dragon--which represents the Saxons--is white. Ambrosius/Merlin prophecies that the Britons will drive the Saxons back to the sea. (See Vortigern and the Dragons for the full story.)

The dragon was apparently originally a Roman emblem, later adapted by some British chieftains. The dragon came to symbolize the leader of the Britons--such as Uther Pendragon and his son Arthur. Maelgwn Gwynedd was called "Dragon of the Isle" by Gildas, and the symbol was also used by Owain Glyndwr and Henry Tudor before becoming the official flag of Wales.

Answer 3

The flag was granted official status in 1959, but the red dragon itself has been associated with Wales for centuries; indeed, the flag is sometimes claimed to be the oldest national flag still in use, though the origin of the adoption of the dragon symbol is now lost in history and myth. A plausible theory is that the Romans brought the emblem to what is now Wales during their occupation of Britain in the form of the Draco standards borne by the Roman cavalry, itself inspired by the symbols of the Dacians or Parthians. The green and white stripes of the flag were additions by the House of Tudor, the Welsh dynasty that held the English throne from 1485 to 1603. Green and white are also the colours of the leek, another national emblem of Wales.

Pob lwc!

Answer 4

As far as I'm aware it has no status at all.

After the Act of Union it was considered that the Welsh were included with the English as union with Wales had already taken place a year before.

So officially the Welsh are considered to be included in the Cross of St George which makes up part of the Union Flag....the Welsh Dragon clearly is not on the Union flag.

Northern Ireland is included in the Union Flag.

The flag of Ulster is the thin diagonal stripes on the flag.....added to the Cross of St Andrew and the Cross of St George to make up the entire flag.

I'm not saying it's fair to the Welsh, just answering the question.