The Duke of Edinburgh joked with visitors about the weather and the amount of mud around.

With one visitor he quipped: "There is going to be a competition for the muddiest dog."

Prince Philip was escorted round the show by president of the South of England Agricultural Society Colonel Sir Brian Barttelot and the Lord Lieutenants of East Sussex and Surrey.

At the start of his hour-long walkabout he almost collided with Maria Plumridge, from Telscombe Cliffs, near Newhaven, and her two children Eve, seven, and Jack, five.

Maria said: "He almost bumped into us but one of his bodyguards spotted what was about to happen and Prince Philip said 'Excuse me' to us."

Dr Stephen Tapper, director of policy and public affairs of The Game Conservancy Trust, spent about ten minutes talking to him about the trust's work.

Dr Tapper said: "He asked about game and the types of animals that can be found in the countryside like grey squirrels and mink.

"He has always taken a keen interest in the trust."

Walking past The Argus stand the royal visitor asked what The Argus did. When told by a bodyguard it was the local newspaper he said: "Jolly good."

He also made time to squeeze in an impromptu visit to the horse-shoeing and shoe-making competition.

He talked to some of the competitors who came from across Britain.