A preserved county (Welsh: siroedd cadwedig) is the equivalent of a Scottish lieutenancy area or an English ceremonial countyArea in England with an appointed Lord Lieutenant to represent the monarch's interest., an area that has an appointed Lord Lieutenant to represent the monarch’s interests. The preserved counties are based on those that were used for local government purposes between 1974 and 1996, as defined in the Lieutenancies Act 1997, and are purely ceremonial in nature.^[1] All administrative work is carried out by one or more of the twenty-two single-tier principal areas which make up the preserved counties.

The office of Lord Lieutenant was created during the reign of King Henry VIII. Whenever the monarch visits an area he or she will be accompanied by its Lord Lieutenant.^[2]

There are eight preserved counties in Wales. Their boundaries correspond to those of the shrieval counties, to which High Sheriffs are appointed as the monarch’s judicial representatives, but again, for ceremonial purposes only.^[3]