Prince William, Prince of Wales speaks with farmers during an event for 60 of the Duchy of Cornwall's next generation of farming tenants. Photo / Getty Images
Prince William, Prince of Wales speaks with farmers during an event for 60 of the Duchy of Cornwall's next generation of farming tenants. Photo / Getty Images
Prince William will appear on Clarkson’s Farm after meeting young farmers in Somerset with Kaleb Cooper.
William discussed mental health for farmers, highlighting his role as patron of We Are Farming Minds.
The visit will feature in Clarkson’s Farm series four and on Countryfile in May.
The Prince of Wales is to appear on an episode of Clarkson’s Farm after Kaleb Cooper, the show’s celebrity farmhand, joined him on a royal engagement.
Prince William, 42, was joined by Cooper and other stars of Amazon’s top-rating UK series, including Charlie Ireland, when hemet young farmers in Somerset on Wednesday.
An Amazon Prime camera crew followed the heir to the throne’s trip to Folly Farm, in a 101-ha nature reserve in Pensford, Chew Valley, where he was raising awareness of mental health care for farmers.
Great to be meeting with some of the Duchy of Cornwall’s young farmers today, and a pleasure to be joined by Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland for what will be an inspiring afternoon. 🚜🌱🌾🐄 pic.twitter.com/GooQ6lpotp
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 26, 2025
The prince revealed that his eldest son, 11-year-old Prince George, was a fan of the show and would be tuning in to the special episode.
The heir to the throne told the breakout star of Clarkson’s Farm, well known for his squabbles with Jeremy Clarkson: “You’ve got George watching now. I said to him: ‘What shall I say if I meet Kaleb?’ He said: ‘Tell Kaleb to mind his language.‘”
Cooper, 26, joked with William about how much he swears on the popular TV series, filmed on the former Top Gear presenter’s Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire.
Prince William speaks with Clarkson's Farm stars Kaleb Cooper (centre), and Charlie Ireland in Pensford, England. Photo / Getty Images
He admitted: “I did get told off for swearing too much ... I tried to stop, but at the same time, it’s awesome. That’s what I like about the whole show. I’ve had so many people thank me, going, ‘You brought the family together.’ It’s a great feeling.”
Cooper greeted the prince by telling him “great hair’ and William laughed as he responded: “Is that your clean shirt?” and “Are they the cleanest [shoes] you’ve got?”
Ireland, a land agent who advises Clarkson, said after being told that George would watch the programme: “It’s great because it’s meant to bring everyone together, isn’t it – on the family sofa.”
William also joined a panel chat hosted by Vick Hope, which is scheduled to appear on a future episode of BBC’s Countryfile.
William congratulated the radio star turned TV presenter on her “brilliant” new role with the programme. Hope replied that it was nice “to spend time in nature”.
The prince’s visit coincided with the announcement of his new position as patron of We Are Farming Minds, a Duchy of Cornwall-supported charity set up to help farmers experiencing isolation and mental health issues.
William was joined by its founders, Duchy tenants Sam and Emily Stables, who started the organisation from their Hertfordshire farm in 2020 after Sam tried to take his own life following struggles with his mental health.
The couple previously met the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2023, taking them on a tour of their Kings Pitt Farm in Aconbury to discuss the charity.
Delighted to become Patron of We Are Farming Minds. Founded by Duchy of Cornwall tenants Sam and Emily Stables, this brilliant charity provides training, events, information, support and advice on mental health to farmers in Herefordshire and beyond. pic.twitter.com/7QSv29p0Ep
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 26, 2025
The prince joined the inaugural event on Wednesday for 60 of his duchy’s next generation of farming tenants.
The prince has used his platform, since inheriting the role of Duke of Cornwall from his father, to shine a light on rural mental health and rural isolation.
He previously launched a duchy mental health strategy, which marked a first for the organisation.
The prince has been an advocate for mental health issues for several years, explaining during the engagement: “I never realised what I’d stumbled into when I scratched the surface.
“The issue of mental health is fragile and not spoken about enough.”
Asked by Hope what was in his “toolkit” to cope with mental health issues and stress, he replied: “My toolbox is quite big.”
He said: “If you imagine all of the tools you have in a farm, have a toolbox that is a mental toolbox and in there you have to have certain tools to deal with any problems that come along in life.
“If you don’t have that tool, find someone who can provide you with that tool.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for a bit of help.
“I know in the farming world you live, sleep, breathe, everything, but try to find a way to come away from it, otherwise you’ll find yourself talking about the same thing that bothers you on a day-to-day basis. And it goes round in circles.
“Have time out, go do things that are fun, go and do something completely different and give the mind a chance to rest.”
He added: “I worry about how much time we are on our phones and data. Most of us look at your phone first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
“We’ve got to get out of the habit because it is mentally not good for us, your brain isn’t resting.
“We’ve got to be really careful with the practices we teach our children and the way we live. We’ve got to take time out for ourselves, calm down, have a clear think, [a] different perspective.”
Cooper has also been outspoken about the importance of mental health in farming, in which suicide rates are disproportionately high.
He told the Prince: “Most 20-year-olds are going to clubs and pubs but young farmers are stuck on their tractors, which is great, but they are not talking to anyone.”
Cooper explained that he received around 250 phone calls a day, “chatting away” with other young farmers while they were working on fields alone.
William’s visit is expected to feature in the fourth series of Clarkson’s Farm next year, and on Countryfile in May.
Meanwhile, the King learned all about the wonders of soil at an exhibition in Somerset House, where he met with farming families.
Charles spent the afternoon touring the Soil: The World at Our Feet exhibition, which celebrates the power and potential of dirt.
He was also joined by families and representatives from The Royal Countryside Fund, a charity that helps farms to be more sustainable which he set up in 2010 as the Prince of Wales.
Bridget Elworthy, curator of the exhibition, said: “For a long time he’s been our number one soil hero, so to have him come in to celebrate this exhibition has been so exciting.”
Henrietta Courtauld, a co-curator of the exhibition, added: “He has such an interest and understands the importance of nature and working with nature and that’s so close to our hearts and values as well.
“There’s an area in the exhibition where you can actually smell the soil and he would smell that himself when he’s out in the garden and how that makes you feel so good.”
Elsewhere, Queen Camilla visited the Charles Dickens Museum to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
She descended into a fit of giggles listening to Miriam Margolyes and Simon Callow, who are patrons of the museum, read excerpts from his works and letters, including one about a broken clock and returning home “dead drunk” one early morning in 1836.
The Queen toured the museum and admired Dickens’ writing desk, his many portraits, letters and even a smart outfit he wore to meet royalty.
Speaking afterwards, Margolyes said of the Queen: “Aren’t we lucky to have her? What a delightful woman. She’s such a brilliant supporter of literacy and the arts. She is just superb.”
