Around 8,000 people gathered in Ashbourne's town centre in anticipation of the arrival of the Prince of Wales.

Ashbourne had been hoping for a visit by HRH Prince Charles for the past two years.

SHROVETIDE 2003 GUIDE AUDIO Listen to Prince Charles' speech Listen to the start of the game Listen to highlights of the day RealPlayer required PHOTOS Gallery One - Prince Charles In Ashbourne Gallery Two - Spectators and Players Gallery Three - More pictures from BBC News ALSO SEE Shrovetide Guide

Unfortunately, he was forced to cancel both the previous visits.

Prince Charles arrived shortly before noon to rapturous applause from the towns-folk and visitors.

His first stop was the Green Man pub for the traditional Shrovetide lunch.

There, Prince Charles made a speech lasting several minutes in which he commended the town for upholding the tradition of the game.

He also expressed his disappointment at not being able to attend the game in either of the two previous years and said how proud and honoured he was to have been asked to 'turn up' the ball.

Paying tribute to Derbyshire, Prince Charles said: "I really do adore coming up here anytime I can. It is still Olde England at its best - it must be if Ashbourne still has three butchers left. There aren't many places left that have as many as that!

"You have some of the best rural pubs in Derbyshire and I've been lucky enough to meet a wonderful cross-section of some of the county's inhabitants."

Then, shortly after two o'clock, the Prince made his way through the alleyway of Blacksmith's Yard and to the Shaw Croft Car Park on the shoulders of two minders.

After a rousing chorus of Auld Lang Syne, the Prince turned the ball up to the eagerly waiting players of this most historic game.

Now take a look at our photo galleries of Ashbourne Shrovetide 2003 Gallery One - Prince Charles In Ashbourne Gallery Two - Spectators and Players Gallery Three - More pictures from BBC News