Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal will visit the Royal Cornwall Show on the opening day this June.

The news was warmly welcomed at the traditional pre-show reception, given at his home by this year’s president, Col. Edward Bolitho, OBE and his wife Alexandra.

It will be the Princess’s fourth visit to Cornwall’s biggest annual event and will be a highlight of a significantly ‘royal’ year for the show.

Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association council members, officials, staff and guests gathered for a pre-show reception held in the grounds of Trengwainton, near Penzance.

With the show now less than four weeks away, the reception brought together all those responsible for its smooth running and gave them the opportunity for a relaxed catch-up in advance of what will be a hectic three days.

Confirmation of The Princess Royal’s visit gave a great boost to proceedings, said show secretary Christophe Riddle.

“There was no big announcement but in all the conversations I had, there was a really positive response and I think the news was very timely.”

At the association’s annual general meeting in March, HRH The Countess of Wessex – who attended the meeting - became president-elect.

Earlier the same day, the countess had officially opened the showground’s new exhibition hall, which will be used to house cattle at this year’s show and a host of other exhibitions and events at other times of the year.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall is patron of the show and The Duke’s Award for farm business diversification will be presented on the first day of the show.

As Lord Lieutenant for Cornwall, Col. Bolitho works closely with all members of the royal family and his presidency seals a year of close involvement between them and the show.

The Princess Royal’s last visit to the show was in 2008, when she officially opened the Pavilion Centre on the showground.

In 2013 her visit will have a dual purpose.

She is coming in her role as President of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth – which is holding its annual general meeting during the show.

Additionally, she will have a busy programme of visits and presentations around the showground.

The show opens for three days on the 6th of June. Livestock and equine entries are at a high level, over 1,000 trade stands offer great shopping and the entertainment promises to be nothing short of spectacular with a virtually non-stop main arena programme.
Keep up to date with the show at www.royalcornwall.co.uk, Royal Cornwall Show News (Facebook) and RCSupdate (Twitter).