Thousands of visitors flock to this year's Royal Welsh Show
The show was officially opened with a ceremony that celebrated the richness of Welsh culture, the strength of rural communities, and the enduring importance of the agricultural industry in Wales.
Chair of Council, Mrs Nicola Davies FRAgS, welcomed members and dignitaries to the event, reflecting on the pivotal role of the Society in championing Welsh agriculture and rural life.
'The Show is a very important platform to promote the very best of the agricultural industry that we all hold so very dear,' she said.
'It underlines its importance, not only economically, but socially and culturally too.'
Mrs Davies paid warm tribute to the 2025 Feature County, Caernarfonshire, and thanked its fundraising committees for their outstanding work in raising awareness and vital funds to support capital developments at the showground.
Mr John R Owen, the Society's President for 2025, then addressed the audience, expressing his pride and honour in representing Caernarfonshire as Feature County.
'I have no doubt that the founders of the Society are looking down in much admiration of today's standards and achievements,' he said.
A special highlight of the day was the visit of HRH The Princess Royal, who was attending in her capacity as President of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RACS). Her Royal Highness attended the AGM of the RASC and then toured the showground, engaging with exhibitors and visitors, and seeing the many new additions to the show since her last visit in 2022.
During the afternoon's Awards Ceremony, Dylan Jones, Castellior, Menai Bridge, Anglesey was announced as the winner of the prestigious Sir Bryner Jones Memorial Award, which featured the beef industry for the first time in 30 years.
The were changes to this year's show with the introduction of a new Heavy Horse Village — a dedicated area celebrating the legacy and ongoing role of working horses in Welsh agriculture.
The village featured interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, and opportunities for visitors to meet these gentle giants and their handlers, along with new turn-out competition classes.
The opening day's main ring programme was headlined by the Ukrainian Cossacks, whose dazzling displays of traditional horsemanship and acrobatics captivated showgoers.
Other main ring attractions included the Bolddog FMX display team, the Tristar Carriage and the RAF Falcons Parachute display team.
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