Princess Anne opens bicentennial Sydney Royal Easter Show

Marking the 200th anniversary of when it was first held, the Sydney Royal Easter Show has been opened by Princess Anne, the first visit to Australia by a member of the British royal family since before the Coronavirus pandemic.

Attending the Easter Show at the Sydney Showground in her role as Patron of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth.

Princess Anne was escorted by mounted units of the NSW Police as she entered the central showring (GIANTS Stadium) in a horse-drawn caleche originally built more than 150 years ago in a Vice-Regal tradition dating back well over a hundred years.

Known for her love of agricultural issues and horses, Princess Anne opened the 1988 Easter Show during Australia's bicentenary celebrations.

Running for 12 days from Friday 8th to Tuesday 19th April, the Show will feature nearly 8,500 animals with tens of thousands of other entries in competitions judging everything from rats to roosters and reptiles.

As part of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW's 200-year celebrations, there is also a competition for best period-themed young horse riders and pooch owners, featuring costumes from the 1800s.

Royal Easter Show General Manager of Agriculture, Murray Wilton, said the event remains true to its roots, noting “we're doing today what we did 200 years ago but we're doing it on a much grander scale.

“It all started with a group of farmers who thought that their livestock were better than their neighbours', and it grew from there.”

The Easter Show’s capacity has been capped at 80,000, despite there being no Covid restrictions in place. 

Images: Princess Anne at the Sydney Royal Easter Show yesterday. Credit: Sydney Royal Easter Show.