York Minster was surrounded by crowds eager to catch a glimpse of royalty as the Duke of York flew into the city today.

Prince Andrew, arriving at Clifton by helicopter, was rushed by car to the Minster.

He waved and smiled to hundreds gathered outside before unveiling a plaque to the Great West door.

Restoration work lasting three years, was recently finished at a cost of nearly one million pounds, returning it to its original splendour.

The Prince met Minster staff and dignitaries before being given a detailed examination at the door with designer Rory Young and Dean of York, the Very Reverend Raymond Furnell.

The Prince then toured the inside of the Minster, meeting stonemasons who had spent many months crafting the door.

Foreman carver Geoff Butler said: "He is a very casual customer. He takes time to absorb what you say and puts everybody at ease.

"He was extremely impressed by the work we've done and he was particularly interested in the training of young people. He asked us whether we took on apprentices."

The Prince also met French ex-airmen in York who were on a visit to their old air base at Elvington. Nearly 2,000 French servicemen spent more than a year in the village during the Second World War.

The Prince spoke to them in front of the Minster's RAF Memorial.

Royalist Susan Pickles, from Bubwith, near Selby, said: "I've been a royal fan all my life, but this is the first time I've ever actually seen one of the family."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.