Wales Herald Extraordinary

Wales Herald Extraordinary
The heraldic badge of
Wales Herald of Arms Extraordinary
 
Heraldic traditionGallo-British
JurisdictionEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Governing bodyCollege of Arms
Thomas Lloyd, current Wales Herald

Wales Herald of Arms Extraordinary (Welsh: Herodr Arbennig Cymru) is a current Officer of Arms Extraordinary under the Courts of England and Wales' jurisdiction. Wales is a Royal Herald, ie a member of the Royal Household, and while not being a member of chapter of the College of Arms, processes with the other heralds at ceremonial occasions. Wales Herald forms an integral part of the procession when the British monarch officially opens a session of Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament at Cardiff Bay.[1]

There was formerly a Wales Herald in the late 14th century, but that office was short-lived.[2] The post was re-established in 1963 as an Officer of Arms Extraordinary, its first appointee being Francis Jones.

The badge dates from 1967 and depicts a treasured medieval Welsh possession, the Croes Naid—a cross heavily gilded and jewelled and said to contain a fragment of the True Cross of Jesus Christ; it is blazoned Issuant from an open Royal Crown of the 13th century Or a representation of a Croes Naid also Or jewelled Proper.

The present Wales Herald of Arms Extraordinary is Thomas Lloyd, OBE, DL, FSA, having succeeded Michael Siddons in 2010.[3]

  1. ^ Chesshyre, Hubert; Ailes, Adrian (2001). Heralds of Today, A Biographical List of the Officers of the College of Arms, London, 1987-2001. London: Illuminata Publishers. pp. 51–53. ISBN 0-9537845-1-7.
  2. ^ "Wales Herald Extraordinary". www.cgnfhs.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  3. ^ The Heraldry Gazette, Issue 118, December 2010. ISSN 0437-2980