MEETING royalty was the icing on the cake for Cumbria’s Young Farmers after they were rewarded for their hard work helping the county’s vaccine efforts.

The group was awarded at the Cumbria Farm Business Awards at the Westmorland County Show on Wednesday, September 8 with the Community Championship Award.

The award recognised the huge amount of work the young farmers have done in the community over the last year, including helping to marshal at vaccination centres across the county to help the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Some members also took part in a sky dive to raise money for the Calvert Trust, who deliver outdoor adventure holidays for disabled adults and children.

Members have also taken part in litter picks and helped rebuild walls.

"It was unexpected and just to be recognised for all the hard work members have put in over the last year, it was really nice," said Emily Armer, vice chairman of Cumbria Young Farmers.

And on the second day of the show Cumbria Young Farmers’ stall was paid a special visit from Sophie, the Countess of Wessex and Princess Anne.

“They came to talk to us, they had chosen us as one of the stalls they would visit,”said Ms Armer.

“They spoke to us about membership, and the uptake during Covid, how we were getting on and they also asked about the voluntary work that young farmers had been doing.

“They stayed for about five minutes and were interested in where we farmed and where we were from."

Ms Armer, who also works as a pharmacy technician for Kendal Primary Care Network, described the royal pair as 'lovely people' who were 'very nice to speak to'.

“It was amazing, they were lovely people and we had a good time talking to them," she said.

“They were very nice to talk to.”