On the 26th November, The Countess of Wessex as Patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO), in the morning, attended the Royal Welsh Winter Fair at the Royal Welsh Showground, where she was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Powys (Mrs. Tia Jones).
First staged in 1990, the Winter Fair is now firmly established as one of the most popular attractions on the British agricultural show calendar. Leading stockmen from all over the UK compete for the top accolades in the competitions running throughout the two-day event.
Each year the event is being organized by the The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, organization that was formed in 1904, with the first show held in Aberystwyth in the same year. The Society has come a long way since those early days and the Royal Welsh Show has become an important event in the Welsh calendar.
HRH visited opening day of the event, and it was the second visit to the Royal Welsh Showground for the Countess, but her first to the prestigious Royal Welsh Winter Fair, having first visited the Royal Welsh Show with the Earl of Wessex back in 2003.
Whilst at the fair, HRH The Countess of Wessex had the opportunity to visit all areas of the event including the new start-up farmers market, the Winter Fair Taste Test competitions, the homecrafts and horticulture displays and, of course, the livestock, the event’s star attraction.
During her visit, The Countess of Wessex met young farmers making Christmas decorations and members of the agricultural academy, as well as those taking part in a Christmas Tree competition. The Countess also met people taking part in the equine show as well as those in the sheep ring. Finally, HRH presented the “baby supreme championship” in the main event ring.
After the event, William Hanks, Honorary Winter Fair Director said: “It was a pleasure to have a visit from the Countess at this year’s Winter Fair. The five hour visit was packed full and the time soon flew by as we took in the very best that this wonderful event has to offer.”
“Her Royal Highness has a keen interest in agriculture and her knowledge of the industry was apparent as she showed a genuine interest in all sections of the event and chatted freely with everyone she met. We very much hope she enjoyed her visit to the showground as much as we did.”
For press release about the Winter Fair, click here. Articles about HRH’s visit can be found here and here. Gallery of pics can be found here. The most detailed article can be found here, there is also a video from HRH’s visit.
Outfit & jewellery:
STELLA MCCARTNEY Vivienne double-breasted wool-blend coat.
Blue turtleneck.
Hippo Splat pendant by Patrick Mavros.
Patrick Mavros Sea Urchin Petite Stud Earrings in Black Diamond.
Some black boots.
Clutch most likely by Sophie Habsburg Design.
HRH The Countess of Wessex 