Prince William helps with farm chores in Herefordshire, highlights farmers' mental health

People reports that Prince William visited a family-run farm in Herefordshire on Jan. 15, 2026, joining seasonal tasks such as pruning apple trees, building a fence and feeding sheep while drawing attention to farmers' mental health as patron of We Are Farming Minds.

While pruning in the rain he quipped, "It's going to be a tricky one up there!" and Farmer John Bowler said, "It always gets harder the higher up you get," the Hereford Times reported; William called an interlocking branch's fall a "lumberjack moment." The Hereford Times also reported he was "mobbed by the flock" when he entered the sheep pen. Bowler runs a 190-acre family farm after unexpectedly taking over from his late father in 2012 at age 19. William met with Bowler and the charity's founder, Sam Stables, and his wife, Emily Stables, who set up We Are Farming Minds to tackle stigma and provide fully funded counseling, a 24/7 support line, training and wider support.

The Stables are tenants of the Duchy of Cornwall, which William inherited when he became heir to the throne in 2022, and William became patron of the charity in March 2025. The Duchy is working with We Are Farming Minds as part of its ongoing mental health support for tenants; William and Princess Kate previously visited the couple in 2023, and William's first outing of the new year was a Jan. 8 visit with Kate to a London hospital to highlight winter pressures on healthcare.

Key Topics

Health, Prince William, Herefordshire, John Bowler, Farmers' Mental Health