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Gallery of a royal visit: 16 pictures showing Prince Andrew’s day in York

The prince is impressed by the museum's horse and rider. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
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What’s up? The Duke of York sees work on high at York Minster. Photograph: Duncan Lomax / ravageproductions.co.uk
What’s up? The Duke of York sees work on high at York Minster. Photograph: Duncan Lomax / ravageproductions.co.uk
York gave a sunny welcome to Prince Andrew on Wednesday (May 13) as the royal who bears our name toured city landmarks.

The Duke of York opened both the newly renovated York Army Museum on Tower Street and the new development at York Racecourse.

And he met the skilled craftsmen and women restoring York Minster.

Touring the Minster

Rebecca Thompson, Superintendent of Works, accompanies the Duke. Photograph: Duncan Lomax / ravageproductions.co.uk
Rebecca Thompson, Superintendent of Works, accompanies the Duke. Photograph: Duncan Lomax / ravageproductions.co.uk
In stylish branded headgear, Prince Andrew learns more about the Minster restoration. Photograph: Duncan Lomax / ravageproductions.co.uk
In stylish branded headgear, Prince Andrew learns more about the Minster restoration. Photograph: Duncan Lomax / ravageproductions.co.uk

Prince Andrew has been patron of the York Minster Fund since 1989. During his visit he saw how much of the fund’s money has been spent, restoring and conserving the cathedral’s East End and Great East Window.

He toured the Minster’s Stoneyard and the York Glaziers Trust to speak with the stonemasons, carvers and glaziers working on the project, which is one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

In the Minster Stoneyard, where the magic happens. Photograph: Duncan Lomax / ravageproductions.co.uk
In the Minster Stoneyard, where the magic happens. Photograph: Duncan Lomax / ravageproductions.co.uk

Rebecca Thompson, Superintendent of Works at York Minster, said it was an honour to meet the prince and explain what was happening at the medieval masterpiece.

York Minster is a masterpiece in stained glass and stone but its 800-year-old fabric requires constant care and attention to protect it from the elements and decay.

The work undertaken as part of York Minster Revealed will help ensure this medieval masterpiece is protected for many generations to come.

At the army museum

The pipes of the Royal Dragoon Guards ready to welcome the Duke at the York Army Museum. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
The pipes of the Royal Dragoon Guards ready to welcome the Duke at the York Army Museum. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD

Over on Tower Street, Prince Andrew officially opened the York Army Museum, the name of the newly refurbished regimental museum of The Royal Dragoon Guards, The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire and The Yorkshire Regiment.

After receiving a £1 million Heritage Lottery grant last year, the former Territorial Army drill hall in has been transformed.

The prince is impressed by the museum's horse and rider. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
The prince is impressed by the museum’s horse and rider. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
The Duke clearly enjoying his visit to the York Army Museum. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
The Duke clearly enjoying his visit to the York Army Museum. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD

The attraction now features a 7m-long dining table with lift-up lids containing a mix of interactive activities.

Visitors can also see sculptures of a cavalry horse, a Sherman tank and many military artefacts and collections.

Major (Retired) Michael Dillon with the picture of him as a younger man at the museum. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
Major (Retired) Michael Dillon with the picture of him as a younger man at the museum. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
The Duke of York meets various individuals involved in the development of the new museum. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
The Duke of York meets various individuals involved in the development of the new museum. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
A former military man himself, the Duke listens intently. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
A former military man himself, the Duke listens intently. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD

A veteran of the former Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire, Major (Retired) Michael Dillon, 84, was introduced to the prince.

Maj Dillon, who now lives in Bispham, Lancashire, features in one of the museum photographs. It shows him aged 35, hot and dusty on operations in the mountains of Aden in 1966.

Unveiling the plaque with a flourish. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
Unveiling the plaque with a flourish. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
Prince Andrew presents the first Duke of York Medal to Major David Prew. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
Prince Andrew presents the first Duke of York Medal to Major David Prew. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
And a more unofficial moment in the presentation. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD
And a more unofficial moment in the presentation. Photograph: Sgt Si Longworth / MOD

In his role as Colonel in Chief of The Yorkshire Regiment, Prince Andrew presented the first Duke of York Medal.

This award for an outstanding contribution to the regiment went to Major David Prew, 50, of 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment.

Over to the races

The Duke opens the new weighing room at York Racecourse
The Duke opens the new weighing room at York Racecourse

Prince Andrew joined the thousands gathered at York Racecourse for the opening day of both the Dante Meeting and the season.

He officially opened the new Weighing Room, the key part of the wider development of the northern end of the racecourse.

A view of the rather splendid new weighing room at the racecourse
A view of the rather splendid new weighing room at the racecourse
The Prince presents the prizes to the winners of the Duke Of York Clipper Stakes
The Prince presents the prizes to the winners of the Duke Of York Clipper Stakes

Prince Andrew later presented the prize to the winners of the richest race of the afternoon, the Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes. The race was won by outsider Glass Office at odds of 40/1, trained by David Simcock and ridden by Jim Crowley.