Prince Andrew received a right royal welcome in York, proving that the city's own Duke is one of the most popular members of the Royal Family.

A cheer rose from hundreds gathered outside the Minister as he stepped from his car beside North Yorkshire's most famous landmark, to an announcement by town crier John Redpath dressed in full regalia.

His greetings and leisurely chat with civic dignitaries, Minster staff, beneficiaries and architects proved he was a royal at one with the public.

Ushered along by a cortege of security staff, he took time out to speak to those who were there, from the Dean of York, the Very Rev Raymond Furnell, to flower arrangers.

Probably the most emotionally affected by the chance to speak to the Duke were a group of more than 100 former Free French airmen and their families, back in the city 53 years after they brought an unmistakably Gallic flavour to North Yorkshire.

The group was based at Elvington during the Second World War, flying under the orders of RAF Bomber Command in the effort to liberate their homeland. And, with the boost in the village's normally tiny population of nearly 2,000, their influence on the village earned it the name Petite France.

The group met Andrew by the Minster's RAF Memorial, where he spoke to them and remembered their bravery.

Colonel Robert Nicaise, who introduced the Duke to other ex-servicemen re-visiting their old home, said: "This is a very, very special occasion for us.

"Prince Andrew and the British Royal Family are very well thought of in France and his efforts to meet us mean a lot to all of us.

"For some of the people here this is the highlight of our trip. Some have come only because Prince Andrew would be here, and it is a great honour for us to speak to him and for him to remember what we did."

Col Nicaise pointed out a name in the Minster's Book of Remembrance of one of his flying comrades.

The pilot died during the war after refusing to bale out of his plane until he had ensured his whole crew were out before him.

"My impression of Prince Andrew is that he is a very good man," said Col Nicaise.

"He is honestly interested in aviation and very sympathetic to all of us who served with the British during the war.

"We have never met any royalty before and it is a big occasion for us. We will always be ready for an occasion like this."

Prince Andrew was in York to mark the restoration of the Great West Door of the Minster, work that has taken more than three years to complete and cost nearly £1million.

His visit was the first since January when he was in York to launch a new community initiative named in his honour, the Duke of York Community Initiative, aimed at breathing new life into all four Yorkshire counties.

He attended Askham Bryan College, near York, for the launch of the scheme.

Royal fan Susan Pickles, from Bubwith, near Selby, said: "I missed him when he was here in January and to stand so close to him now is a great honour.

"My son was in the Royal Navy and this endeared me to him. I love the Royal Family but Prince Andrew has to be my favourite"

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