In August 1955, Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh embarked on a tour of Wales.

The royal party visited Brecon during this tour, including Newton Park, where the Brecknockshire Agricultural Society were hosting a show.

The event itself was a special occasion, celebrating the 200th year of the Society’s existence.

Favoured with blue skies and glorious summer sunshine, Her Majesty and the Duke arrived in an open car at the picturesque Newton Park showground early in the day. The pair received a loud and warm welcome from the crowds lining the royal car route.

The Royal Salute of Honour was given by the 1st Battalion South Wales Borderers, which was afterwards inspected by Her Majesty.

Thousands of spectators cheered in what was, at the time, a record attendance at the show of just over 16,000.

Queen Brecon 1955
Royal visitors listen to choir: The Queen and the Duke listening to the Youth Coir singing at the station. In the group are the Lord Lieutenant with Miss Alison Raikes (behind), the Mayor of Brecon (Colonel D. L. Jones) and the Town Clerk (Mr W. E. W. Lloyd). Behind the Mayor is the Home Secretary (the Rt. Hon. Gwilym Lloyd George) (.)
Queen Brecon 1955
Leaving the pavilion: The Queen leaving the Royal Pavilion with the President, followed by the Duke (.)

As the Queen and Duke made their inspection of the showground, they chatted freely with the judges and took a keen interest in the stock on view, being especially delighted with the record display of the Hereford breed.

Queen Brecon 1955
At the sheep pens: With Her Majesty at the sheep pens are the President (Mr John de Winton), Mr J. E. Lewis, Fforest Lodge (behind), and the Lord Lietenant (Major General G. T. Raikes) speaking to the Duke of Edinburgh (.)
Brecon Queen 1955
A bouquet for the Queen: Maureen Evans, nine-year-old daughter of Mr and Mrs Gilbert Evans (Newtown) presents a bouquet to the Queen. The Duke and the vice-presidents of the Society look on (.)

One of the highlights of the visit was when Her Majesty presented long-service medals to 12 agricultural working veterans, whose years of service in the industry ranged from 32 to 52 years. The medals, which were a gift of the Society, were handed over by the Queen who graciously congratulated each recipient.

Queen Brecon 1955
The Queen admires the ponies: A neat curtsey by a lady competitor in the Welsh Mountain Pony classes as Her Majesty passes along (.)

Her Majesty also presented the James Pryce cup for the best male animal in the Hereford cattle section to Mr Rudge of Ross-on-Wye, and the Gwynn Holford Challenge cup for the best registered Welsh Mountain pony to Mrs Dinah Griffiths of Talgarth.

Queen Brecon 1955
The Championship cup: The Queen presents the James Pryce cup for the best animal in the Hereford cattle classes to Mr Charles Rudge of Ross-on-Wye, whose bull, “Baysham Kismet”, took the supreme championship. Behind the President, in the background, are some of the agricultural workers who received long-service medals (.)

At the conclusion of the visit, the Queen and Duke left by royal open car shortly after 1:40pm for Trecastle, where her Majesty unveiled the plaque commemorating the inauguration of the new Swansea Corporation Reservoir.

All photos courtesy of Western Mail, South Wales Evening Post and Beacon Studios - published in The Brecon and Radnor Express and County Times on Thursday, August 11, 1955.