Major Andrew Butcher MBE to officially open the 2026 Royal Welsh Show

As Brecknock takes centre stage as the Royal Welsh Show’s 2026 Feature County, Major Andrew Butcher MBE will officially open this year’s event on Monday 20 July.

The official opening ceremony will take place at 10.00am in the Council Area, marking the start of four days celebrating the very best of Welsh agriculture, rural life and entertainment.

The selection of Major Butcher is particularly fitting during Brecknock’s Feature County year. Through his role at Sennybridge Defence Training Estate and his long-standing connections with the Epynt and surrounding rural communities, Major Butcher has developed strong ties to the area and its way of life.

Major Butcher has dedicated four decades to distinguished service in the British Army, having joined the Grenadier Guards in 1986. During his career, he has deployed on active operations in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, demonstrating exceptional professionalism, resilience and leadership in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

Alongside his operational service, Major Butcher has played a prominent role in many of the nation’s most significant ceremonial occasions, including Trooping the Colour, the State Opening of Parliament and numerous State Visits, proudly representing the traditions and public duties of the Grenadier Guards.

Now serving in his final military appointment as Senior Training Safety Officer at Sennybridge Defence Training Estate, Major Butcher is responsible for overseeing the safe and effective use of the 31,000-acre training area. Immersed in the Estate’s rich history and culture, he works closely with local graziers and the surrounding community – an aspect of the role he finds particularly rewarding.

RWAS President for 2026, Gethin W T Havard, FRAgS, said:

“I am immensely honoured that Andrew has agreed to open the 2026 Royal Welsh Show during Brecknock’s Feature County year. As a resident of the Senni Valley and someone raised on a farm, he brings a genuine understanding and appreciation for the challenges and values that define our rural way of life.

“Through his daily involvement with the Epynt Firing Ranges, working closely with both graziers and service personnel, he stands at the meeting point of two sectors that are fundamental to our nation’s wellbeing – agriculture and defence. His commitment to both communities makes him a particularly fitting and distinguished choice to open this year’s Show.”

Married to wife Wendy and a proud father of two daughters, Major Butcher enjoys spending his free time walking his Border Terriers, Ted and Angus, on the Epynt and painting landscapes in oils.

The Royal Welsh Show takes place from Monday 20 to Thursday 23 July 2026 at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd.

Full event details and ticket information are available on the RWAS website.