Pembrokeshire’s flag was registered in 2008 but was originally conceived in 1974 by local councillors Peter Stock, Dewi Pritchard, Jim Brock and Marjorie Jacobs, in the midst of a local government act that removed the administrative status of the county. The flag was defiantly designed and raised, to announce that the county still very much existed irrespective of whatever administrative arrangements the government might impose. Its popularity grew over the decades and it was duly registered on the basis of popular use, appeal and recognition, by the Flag Institute. The design of the flag is based on the flag of St David

alluding to the saint’s birthplace, the city of Saint David’s in the county. The blue is held to represent the water of this sea girt county and the yellow of its summer sunshine. The central device is a green pentagon which symbolises the green fields and cliff-tops of Pembrokeshire; this bears a Tudor Rose as used by King Henry VII, born at Pembroke Castle. The Tudor Rose is occasionally depicted in a quartered red and white form

although there appears to be no specific reason available for its colouring on the flag. Perhaps this version is considered closer to the original Henry VII emblem.

On July 28^th 1988 the flag underwent a dedication ceremony at Pembroke Castle to make it the “official” flag of the county. The ceremony included a marching display by the Queen’s Dragoon Guards who performed music titled “The Pembrokeshire Flag” written by Joffre Swales, founder and conductor of the Haverfordwest Town Band, located in the county.

The flag then received a blessing;

and was brandished by military personnel

whilst another Pembrokeshire flag was hoisted over the castle walls.

The video from which these images of the ceremony have been selected is available to view here

The flag has been taken up with enthusiasm by the county’s inhabitants

regularly flies from Pembroke Castle

and is seen here

very cleverly constructed out of beer cans!

The flag has also been adapted in many ways

The flag is displayed here at the county’s highest point, Foel Cwmcerwyn.

and in 2019 flew over Parliament Square, Westminster

along with other county flags,

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Pembrokeshire