Ceremonial counties of Wales

The Ceremonial counties of Wales, were originally the Traditional counties of Wales, but as a result of various local government acts are currently entirely separate entities.

The Local Government Act 1972 created eight administrative counties

• Clwyd
• Dyfed
• Gwent
• Gwynedd
• Mid Glamorgan
• Powys
• South Glamorgan
• West Glamorgan

The Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 abolished them, but created the concept of preserve counties based on their areas. Some minor changes were made - Llanrhaedr-ym-Mochant, Llansilin and Llangedwyn were transferred from Clwyd to Powys, and Wick, St Bride's Major, Ewenny and Pentyrch were transferred from Mid Glamorgan to South Glamorgan.

The act also stated that these preserved counties should be the areas that Lord-Lieutenants are appointed to cover, and for other ceremonial purposes. This was reaffirmed by the Lieutenancies Act 1997.

See also: Subdivisions of Wales, Traditional counties of Wales, Ceremonial counties of England, Lieutenancy areas of Scotland.