Updated: ALL the signs are that this year’s Great Yorkshire Show is a cracker.

Princess Anne gave the event a royal seal of approval yesterday.

It was Princess Royal’s first visit in 18 years. In that time the show has gone from strength to strength and is now considered to be Britain’s premier agricultural event, a far cry from the local show that started in Fulford, York, 152 years ago.

After years of touring Yorkshire, the show settled at its permanent home in Harrogate during the 1950s and this week 130,000 visitors are expected. Judging by the traffic jams, most of them seemed to be at the showground by nine o’clock yesterday morning.

A record number of livestock had been entered this year, including the most sheep entrants in the show’s history and more cattle than for a decade. Chief pig steward Peter Brier said his section was almost at capacity. Just as well, because once again the show was hosting the Pig Of The Year competition, which attracted exhibitors from all over the country.

The show also had an additional 3,500 square feet dedicated to agricultural machinery and farming-related stands.

Meanwhile, away from rural pursuits, youngsters were busy with crafts of their own, from making rockets to dance and ballet and three days of fashion got under way in the pavilion. Michelin star chefs Andrew Pern and James Mackenzie battled it out in a cook-off at the deliciouslyorkshire cookery theatre.

Show director Bill Cowling said Yorkshire food and drink were playing a key part at the show. He said: “It is obviously the natural product of the farming industry and our ethos focuses on raising awareness of the quality and variety of food we produce.”

Today’s highlights include a question and answer session with TV gardener Christine Walken, of The One Show and celebrity chef Rosemary Shragers will be passing on tips for cooking game in the Game Cookery Theatre. Show visitors can also learn the art of dry stone walling, how to make a rope and how to weave willow hurdles at the Discovery Zone.

Showjumping and heavy horses will be in action in the main ring.

Thirsk and Malton MP Anne McIntosh will be attending the Great Yorkshire Show today.

Ms McIntosh, who is chair of the Environment, Food and Rural affairs Select Committee, said: “I shall be meeting members of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, of which I am a member, as well as meeting and being briefed with representatives from the National Farmers’ Union, Conservative Land and Business Association and Tenant Farmers’ Association.”

Tickets are available at £21 on the gate, concessions £20, children £10 and family £55.

The gates gates open at 7.30am and close at 7.30 tonight, and 6.30pm on Thursday.