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BlazonShield: Quarterly Or and Gules, four lions passant guardant counterchanged armed and langued Azure. |
Wales is represented by a number of different badges and symbols, including the red dragon (y ddraig goch), the leek, daffodil and St.David's Cross. In 2008 a new royal badge was introduced for use by the National Assembly for Wales.
Although the badge is new, the arms at its heart are ancient. The quartered shield with four lions passant guardant was the arms of the Welsh kings of Gwynnedd. When they became princes of Wales in 1206, the arms became associated with the principality. In this capacity they have appeared on the arms of the last two princes of Wales.
The Principality of Wales never encompassed the whole Welsh nation (most of south and east Wales - the Marcher Lordships - were never in the principality). Despite this, the arms of the principality - of Gwynnedd - are used for the whole country in this badge. They are encircled by a scroll bearing the motto "Pleidiol Wyf I'm Gwlad"(I am true to my country, which is taken from the Welsh national anthem. The circlet is surrounded by the royal plant badges for the four countries of the United Kingdom and surmounted by the royal crown.
