One year on from the death of Queen Elizabeth II, The Brecon and Radnor Express look back on Her Majesty's royal visit in 1955.

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 was 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.

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 with pleasure. (.)

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.

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.

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.

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.