The Royal Family

The relationship between the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and the Royal Family goes right back to the very beginning when a group of leading agriculturalists, led by the third Earl Spencer, set up the Society in 1837 before organising the first Great Yorkshire the following year.

The Show has been privileged to welcome members of the Royal Family over the years, some of whom have been Patrons of the Society itself.

The Queen was the first female Patron of the Society and remained so for 45 years from 1952 to 1997. King Charles III has been the Society’s Patron since 1998.

ROYAL VISITORS

2022 – Visit by HRH The Princess Royal

2021 – Visit by HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall

2019 – Visit by HRH the Duke of York

2018 – Visit by HRH The Princess Royal

2015 – Visit by HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall

2014 – Visit by HRH Countess of Wessex (Tues) and HRH The Princess Royal (Wed)

2011 – Visit by HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall

2010 – Visit by HRH The Princess Royal

2008 – Visit by Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

2006 – Visit by HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall

2002 – Visit by HRH The Duke of York

1999 – Visit by HRH The Prince of Wales

1998 – HRH The Prince of Wales became Patron

1994 – Visit by HRH Princess Alexandra

1992 – Visit by HRH Princess Anne

1990 – Visit by Duke and Duchess of York

1987 – Visit by HRH The Duchess of Kent

1982 – Visit by HRH Princess Margaret

1977 – Visit by Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh

1972 – Visit by HRH The Duchess of Kent, who was the Society’s President that year

1957 – Show visited by HM The Queen

1952 – 1997 – Her Majesty The Queen was Patron of the Society

1951 – His Majesty The King (George VI) was Patron, HRH The Princess Royal was President and visited the show

1949 – Show visited by the HRH Princess Elizabeth, later to become HM The Queen

1932 – Show visited by TRH The Duke and Duchess of York (later George VI)

1926 – Show visited by Princess Mary, later HRH The Princess Royal and The Countess of Harewood. She was the aunt of the present Queen and the first female President

1896 – Show visited by HRH The Duke of York as President of the Society

1867 – 1910 – The Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, was the Society’s 1st Royal Patron

1848 – Show visited by HRH Prince Albert, The Prince Consort

1838 – The Society’s first President and a founder member was The Third Earl Spencer, a cousin of Queen Victoria and an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales.