PRINCE OF BALES
Prince William shares cheeky warning from son George as he meets Clarkson’s Farm’s Kaleb in show of support for farmers
His visit came as he revealed his new role as patron of We Are Farming Minds
PRINCE William shared a cheeky warning from his son George as he met with Clarkson's Farm icon Kaleb Cooper.
The Prince of Wales, 42, laughed with TV star Kaleb as he arrived to Folly Farm, in Pensford, Somerset, as a show of support to Britain's young farmers today.
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Wills joked his son Prince George, 11, had told him to tell Kaleb to watch his language, as reported by Sky.
He told the pair: "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."
When the pair first met, the telly star, 26, joked to his royal visitor: "Great hair."
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William laughed and joked back asking if the farmer celeb was wearing a clean shirt.
And when Kaleb pointed out his boots, William said: "Are they the cleanest ones you've got?"
Kaleb, and farming consultant Charlie Ireland, helped former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson run his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire.
The pair have passionately protested about Labour's changes to the agricultural inheritance tax in the past .
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Wills' visit today came as he revealed his new role as patron of We Are Farming Minds.
The Duchy of Cornwall-supported charity aims to help farmers struggling with feelings of isolation and mental health.
William greeted its founders, Duchy tenants Sam and Emily Stables, who started the organisation in 2020 after Sam tried to take his own life.
The three were joined on a panel by Vick Hope, presenter of Countryfile.
William pointed out the last time they met was in Birmingham during an interview with Radio One.
Vick said: "Yes it was, you mentioned the aubergine emoji was your favourite."
Wills replied laughing: "It felt like the right environment to to do it, not sure maybe today."
Speaking to the panel he said ridding the "taboo" around mental health in the farming community is a "work in progress".
He said " we can do more" to support farmers and speak about mental health.
William is a keen advocate and has spoken about mental health issues for several years and added: "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 Vick Hope what was in his "toolkit" used to cope with mental health issues and stress, he replied: "My toolbox is quite big."
He added: "If you imagine all of the tools you have in a farm, have a tool box that is a mental toolbox and in their 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. For me breaking work life balance, breaking the cycle where you can. I know in farming world you life, sleep, breath, everything, but try and find away to come away from it, otherwise you'll find yourself talking about the same thing that bother 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 gotta get out of the habit because mentally not good for us, your brain isn't resting.
"We've got to be really careful with the practises we teach her children and the way we life. We've got to take time out for ourselves, calm down, have a clear think, different perspective.
Kaleb has spoken out about the importance of mental health in the farming community.
And told William: "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."
He told William that he has around 250 phone calls a day "chatting away" with other young farmers while they are working on fields alone.
Speaking afterwards he said it was "great" that Prince George watches Clarkson's Farm which is fronted by Jeremy Clarkson.
He added: "It's family TV and I do get told off for swearing and I try to stop."
Speaking about William's efforts to help mental health in family communities, he said: "The more people that shout about it the better. It doesn't matter who you are but it's great to have a Royal standing with us and pushing this."
Charlie Ireland said: "You don't have to be in farming to understand that there is a problem and that is what he is highlighting, which is fantastic."
Wills, who is landlord to Duchy farming tenants, met with 60 of the landed estate’s next generation today.
He delivered an inspirational speech at the Next Generation Duchy Event.
His new patronage builds on the Duchy’s rural mental health strategy, launched in 2023.
It aims to make the Duchy the leading provider of mental health support to all its tenants.
The charity offers a 24-hour support line as well as funding for professional counselling.
Speaking last year about the organisation, the Prince wrote on his Instagram: "A conversation for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek showing just how important the Duchy of Cornwall’s Mental Health Strategy is.
"Sam and Will’s honest chat about farmers’ experiences with mental health highlights the positive outcomes that can be achieved with the right support, whatever form that might take.
"A farmer or not, we hope that you’ll be able to take something from this film, Sam’s incredible story and his conversation with @farmer_will_
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"@wearefarmingminds is being supported by the Duchy Mental Health Strategy to expand, helping more people in rural communities to access the support they need."
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