The first ever virtual Royal Welsh Show has been officially opened by the Prince of Wales.

Prince Charles opened the iconic agricultural show through a video message on Monday morning.

The opening address also included the Show Director Richard Price, Archbishop of Wales John Davies and Chairman of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Council David Lewis.

Prince Charles said it was "very heartening" that the show will go on this year in a virtual form.

"As we celebrated the society's 100th show together with thousands of show-goers, no-one could possibly predicated the immense disruption that less than a year later would be cause due a worldwide pandemic. Nonetheless the farming community is nothing, if not, resilient and nowhere is that more true than in Wales.

"One consequence of the pandemic seems to be the growing appreciation of locally sourced food and drink, so I can only hope that once this crisis is over customers will continue to support the local farmers and village shops whose value has been proved beyond all measure by this emergency".

He went on to say: "Agricultural shows are the lifeblood of rural communities and of our culture and language. They bring people together, often from isolated family farms, creating a much needed sense of wellbeing. More than ever at this challenging time we need that sense of belonging, of what in Welsh is called ymberthyn, that is such a vital feature of our communities".