Prince Charles spent most of the day at the country show

Prince Charles became the first member of the Royal Family to attend the Nidderdale Show when he officially opened the 108th event near Pateley Bridge on Monday.

He was greeted by crowds of well-wishers and three of the original Rylstone Women's Institute "calendar girls" whose naked exploits for charity have been made into a film.

Beryl Bamforth, Ros Fawcett and Lynda Logan presented the heir to the throne with a 2004 calendar, which also features pictures of actresses Helen Mirren and Julie Walters who star in the new film, Calendar Girls.

It's been an absolutely magnificent day Joe Stoney, show director

Miss March - Mrs Logan - said: "I asked him who was his favourite.

"He said he's going to think about it and I said I hoped he liked Miss March."

The Prince arrived by helicopter and spent the day presenting awards, examining livestock and local produce and meeting visitors.

He tasted a range of locally produced foods, including sausages, wine, cheese and curd tart and was presented with a nine pound wheel of Wensleydale cheese.

Richard Brown, from Yorkshire County Wines, gave Prince Charles a sample of wine and asked if he had any influence over Chancellor Gordon Brown to reduce taxes on wines.

The Prince simply laughed and admitted it was cheaper to buy wine in France.

Show director Joe Stoney said: "It's been an absolutely magnificent day.

"The Prince wants to know everything that's happening and is so interested in everything.