THE Three Counties Show, held each June on its picturesque showground at Blackmore in the shadow of the Malvern Hills, has been granted the royal seal of approval.

From now on the three day event is to be known as the Royal Three Counties Show.

Michael Warner, chairman of the Three Counties Agricultural Society’s Board of Trustees, said: “This is wonderful news for the Society and for individuals and businesses throughout the three counties.

“I am delighted our efforts to secure this endorsement have finally come to fruition.

“Having a ‘Royal’ in our stable of events, will almost certainly add weight to everything we do here, and affirms our place as one of the top agricultural shows in Britain.

“We are indebted to many people who have been instrumental in helping us to achieve this prestigious accolade, including our exhibitors, competitors, traders and visitors who have supported this Show over the years through times of prosperity, hardship and change.”

The move follows a lengthy application process and Mr Warner said support had come from across the region.

“We would like to acknowledge the assistance of former TCAS president, the late Michael Brinton, our current president Countess Darnley and Sir Henry Elwes, who have supported our endeavours throughout,” he said.

The historic food, farming and countryside event, which has entertained people in and around Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire for more than 200 years, is now one of the biggest livestock shows in the country.

Its new title acknowledges its contribution over two centuries to the promotion of breed development, commercial farming and food production, together with its efforts to create opportunity for educational interface between farmers and consumers.

Farming aside, it has also been a source of entertainment and a great day out for families all over the region since the early 1920s.

The royal signature will enhance the event’s reputation, assist with attracting high profile sponsorships and business partnerships, and give more credence to its work to promote environmental and land-based activities, to keep food, farming and countryside enterprise thriving.

Chairman of the society’s council, Michael Blandford, added: “The Three Counties Show is the Society’s flagship event, which continues to go from strength to strength, with livestock entries currently at an all-time high.

“We now host many national breed society shows, bringing pedigree cattle, sheep and pigs from right across Britain, to Malvern, and the largest Rare and Minority Breeds Show in the country. Our horse entries have reached record levels too.

“We are also pleased to support traders and local schools and colleges and now sponsor a Nuffield Scholar each year.”

The Three Counties Show has been a favourite with the Royal Family since the early days on its permanent site at Malvern, with the Queen Mother visiting the very first one at Malvern in 1958, and the Princess Royal acting as the society’s president in 1981.

Since then, the society has welcomed a string of royal visitors, the most recent being the Earl and Countess of Wessex (2001), the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall (2007) and the Duke of Gloucester, who was president in 2011.

This year’s event takes place from June 14 to 16.