THE Duke of York almost risked a real-life deluge for his visit to the opening night of the Millennium Mystery Plays.

A sudden squally shower sent many scuttling to the alleyways around York Minster, but as Prince Andrew arrived, the heavens brightened - allowing most people to gather round and get a good look at their visiting VIP.

The Duke stopped only briefly, to be welcomed by the town's dignitaries, before being installed in his stageside seat as patron of the Mystery Cycle.

Things didn't all go smoothly, though. Town Crier John Redpath, in trying to ring out Prince Andrew's arrival, found the clapper of his bell stuck fast. But he recovered quickly from the sudden silence, embarrassing no one, and only stopped to tinker with the antique bell later, when the fuss had died down a bit.

"It's had it, this one," he said with a smile.

The reaction to the Prince's arrival was cheery and upbeat. Many of the plays' American visitors had not known he was coming.

Mary Lou Pengelly, from Washington DC, said: "We came along to see the Mystery Plays and we just got ourselves a bonus, I guess!"

Also impressed were a group of Norwegian choirgirls, visiting the city for a festival taking place today.

"He looked nice," said one.

"But he was not as cute as Prince William."