Adopted as a symbol by all Tudor monarchs in honour of their regal Welsh heritage, the Tudor Dragon stands as a ferocious heraldic beast. Dragons were prominent signets during the medieval period and were notably used by Owen Tudor, Henry VIII’s great-grandfather. Henry VIII therefore claimed the symbol as a link to Cadwaladr, the king of Gwynedd in Wales from around AD 655 to 682. According to contemporary manuscripts, the Tudor Dragon had a red head, back and wings and a gold underside.