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Clad in country attire, Prince William tried his hand at feeding sheep and pruning an apple tree as he spoke to farmers about their mental health.
The future king warned that British farmers are in a ‘vicious circle’ when trying to juggle their wellbeing at the same time as keeping their businesses afloat.
William, 43, highlighted the ‘uncertainty’ the farming community experiences year-on-year during a visit to Bridge End Farm in Herefordshire, where he also rolled up his sleeves to try his hand at some of the day-to-day jobs undertaken by John Bowler, 35, and his family.
Speaking to Mr Bowler – who has run his 190-acre family farm since the unexpected death of his father in 2012 – the Prince asked when he was able to ‘carve out the space’ to juggle his mental health and the farm’s day-to-day.
William said: ‘That’s the problem, it’s a vicious circle because once you’re in it, it’s very hard to come out of it.’
Mr Bowler, who runs the business with his wife Laura, told the Prince that it had been a ‘tough year’ because of falling prices of their sale stock, government policy insecurity as well as bad weather.
Discussing the impact that getting help had given him, he added: ‘Sometimes you just need somebody to step in and say that, because I probably knew it deep down, that we needed to make some changes.’
The pair spoke about the mental health impact of the profession with Sam Stables, a farmer who came close to ending his own life and, with his wife Emily, has devoted himself to saving others from a similar rock bottom.
The Prince of Wales, patron of We Are Farming Minds, during a visit to a family farm in Herefordshire today
Prince William made the visit to promote the importance of mental health support for agricultural workers
The Prince talked mental health with farmers John and Laura Bowler and founder of We Are Farming Minds Sam Stables
He helped out with daily tasks on the farm near Bromyard, Herefordshire, such as apple picking
William was also seen feeding the Bowlers’ sheep during his trip to the farm on Thursday
The Prince was meeting with farmers John and Laura Bowler (pictured) – Mr Bowler sought help from a mental health charity after taking over his father’s farm at just 19
Prince William listens to farmer John Bowler during a visit to his family farm today
The couple created the charity We Are Farming Minds, which the Prince became patron of in March, to address this problem.
Mr Bowler explained to William that he called the charity’s 24/7 support line in spring last year because ‘everything came all at once’, including a devastating house fire on their property which meant his grandparents had to move out.
He said that it was his wife, Laura, who urged him to make the initial call to the charity’s mental health helpline, which William was told is actually common practice for many of the farmers.
The Prince said: ‘Yes, it’s so true, but it gives you reason to ring [the line] and you don’t feel quite so…it’s hard to ring them off your own back.’
Mr Bowler admitted he was initially worried he was ‘taking help away from someone who needs it,’ but now wishes that he ‘rung way earlier’ and not when the couple felt they were at ‘breaking point’.
We Are Farming Minds now offers the 24/7 support line for farmers as well as funding for counselling, mental health training, social meet-ups and a minibus to get people there.
The Prince was told that for the last two years, April has been the busiest month on the helpline.
‘I find that surprising,’ William responded, ‘because when you’re outside you’re seeing all your work come to fruition in the spring, nature is waking up [and] fields are waking up.’
The Prince became a patron of We Are Farming Minds in March 2025 (Pictured: William tries his hand at pruning apple trees)
William royally mucked in while helping with the daily grind of the farm
The Prince of Wales, patron of We Are Farming Minds, during a visit to a family farm in Herefordshire to highlight the importance of mental health support across the farming community on Thursday
Prince William greets farmers John and Laura Bowler after arriving at their farm near Bromyard, Herefordshire, today
Mr Bowler explained that the work is usually ‘flat out’ during that season, saying that ‘you don’t have time to think’.
He also explained that there is a ‘misconception’ about the wealth of farmers because of land values, which means ‘you don’t get much sympathy’.
The third generation farmer said: ‘I see it all the time…people are like ‘oh well yeah but these farms are worth £3m’ and I think there’s a misconception about that.
‘Most farmers aren’t in it for the money, otherwise nobody would be doing it. All we’re asking for is enough money so that we can carry on farming, that is all anybody wants.’
The future king, one of the country’s largest landowners since he inherited the Duchy of Cornwall, shook his head and agreed, saying ‘it’s not quite right’.
He also asked Mr Stables and Mr Bowler whether they think ‘we are asking too much of our farming community’, adding: ‘There’s only so much managing you can do.
‘The more things you layer on then the more there is a chance you’re going to break, that just seems common sense.’
After the work, William privately took the couple and a number of other local farmers to a pub to discuss the challenges they are facing in the industry.
Thursday’s visit comes after William launched a mental health scheme for the Duchy of Cornwall in 2023 to support farmers on the 130,000-acre estate he inherited upon the death of his grandmother.
During his trip to the Bowlers’ farm, also met with Mr Bowler’s grandmother, Berry, who, at 91, still helps out.
The Prince helped out with some of the daily tasks around the farm during his visit, despite battling poor weather
William tried his hand at tree pruning, a skill the farmers warned was harder than it looked
Prince William smiles as she speaks with John and Laura Bowler
William became a patron of Mr Stables’ charity, which offers counselling, a 24/7 support line, training and social events to those it supports, in March 2025.
Speaking ahead of William’s arrival, Mr Stables revealed that calls to the charity’s helpline have more than doubled in the last year.
He explained that Labour’s inheritance tax raid on farmers – which was watered down last month following public backlash – was high on the list of reasons why this was the case.
He said: ‘We are seeing unprecedented calls to our support line from farmers who are struggling beyond. Our counselling referrals, everything has gone to another level. We’re in crisis, farming is in crisis, so to have the support of the Prince is incredible.’
Mr Stables added that Prince William is ‘very much aware’ of the troubles facing the agricultural industry.
He said: ‘It staggers me what farmers are having to go through for many reasons…but they’re at breaking point, things need to be done.’
The farmer, who is also Herefordshire-based, added: ‘For me, it’s an honour that he recognises and is incredibly passionate about the countryside, farming families and obviously mental health is a massive passion of the Prince’s.’
‘To have him supporting what is at the minute unprecedented times for British farming, and what farming families are going through…everything that he does to help is immense and massively appreciated.’
Elsewhere, Mr and Mrs Bowler said the pressures on farming has become ‘much worse’.
‘There were certain mornings where you struggle to wake up because every morning feels like there’s a mountain to climb,’ Mr Bowler said of the time they decided he had to call We Are Farming Minds.
He said: ‘It’s been a massive help and the more people talk about it and find it, especially family farms, it’s just really tough out there.’
The 35-year-old added that there was still a certain amount of ‘macho-ness’ in the industry, which sometimes prevents farmers from seeking out mental health help, but added: ‘We’ve made some changes since meeting Farming Minds that definitely makes it easier to get up every morning.’
Laura, his wife of two years who works alongside him, added: ‘A lot of farmers have got the weight of the world on them…we both reached breaking points.’
‘I don’t know where we would be without Farming Minds, it’s really given us a lifeline and a way for us to continue,’ she said.
Announcing him as patron, the charity said on its website: ‘We are so excited that the HRH, The Prince of Wales has officially joined us as a patron of our charity.
‘Prince William has a deep passion for the work we do, and we’re incredibly honoured to have his support.
‘With a longstanding commitment to charitable work, Prince William’s values align closely with ours. As patron, he will help raise awareness of our mission, amplify our voice, and support us in creating lasting impact for those who need it most within the farming community.
‘Having The Prince of Wales on board marks an exciting chapter in our journey. Together, we aim to reach even more people, inspire greater change, and continue building a better future for all.’
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