Princess Royal visits Balmoral Show

Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, has visited the Balmoral Show at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) Show Grounds in Belfast. The three day event, described as Ireland’s largest Agricultural Show, is now in its 139th year and regularly attracts around 70,000 visitors.

Her Royal Highness was greeted by the Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast, The Lady Carswell OBE, and, before touring the show, attended a reception held by the Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies (CARAS) where Mr James Kerr, Council Member and former National Chairman CARAS, invited Her Royal Highness to accept an Honorary Fellowship of the Council.

HRH began a tour of some of the almost 400 trade stands with visits to the King’s Hall, where representatives from the Country Gourmet Food Market, the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service and the Royal Agricultural Society were present.

Moving outside to the Horse Ring, Her Royal Highness, who is an expert horsewoman and is closely involved with many equine and veterinary charitable organisations, had the opportunity to meet a number of stewards and judges.

Later, HRH went on to visit the exhibition stands of the Soil Association, Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, and Burkes of Cornascribe Farm Machinery.

In the Balmoral Hall, Her Royal Highness viewed exhibitions from the College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise, and Department for Regional Development and Road Services.

Her Royal Highness also visited the Food Pavilion where representatives from the Livestock and Meat Commission presented the Royal visitor with a book of “Good Food” recipes.

Visiting the Cattle Lawn, HRH met exhibitors, judges and stewards, before returning inside to the Conference Centre to meet some of the sponsors of the Show.

Bringing the visit to a close, Her Royal Highness accepted an invitation to sign the RUAS visitors’ book.

(JM/KMcA)