In Wales, the office of Mayor or Lord Mayor had long been ceremonial posts, with little or no duties attached to it. Traditionally mayors have been elected by town, borough and city councils. Since 2000, councils can decide to have directly elected mayors with extensive powers if such a proposal is approved in a local referendum.
See borough status in England and Wales for a list of Welsh areas having a borough charter (and therefore a mayor).
The right to appoint a Lord Mayor is a rare honour, even less frequently bestowed than city status.
Currently, two cities in Wales have Lord Mayors: Cardiff and Swansea.
The wife of a male Mayor is called the Mayoress and accompanies him to civic functions. A female Mayor or an unmarried male one may appoint a female consort, usually a fellow councillor, as Mayoress. The consort of a Lord Mayor is the Lady Mayoress.