Prince of Wales dons a white hat as he visits an award-winning cheesemaker in Cornwall

Wrapped up in a protective lab coat, Prince Charles took a cheesy detour during his visit to Cornwall today to learn more about the making of local dairy products. 

Charles, 73, met with Catherine Mead, the owner of the  Lynher Dairies Cheese Company near Truro, who took him on a tour of her award-winning business. 

The heir-to-the-throne, who was donning a white protective hat, learned more about the making of Cornish Yarg, a semi hard cheese made from grass rich Cornish milk and wrapped in nettle leaves. 

During his visit to the premises, the Prince of Wales, who is Patron of The Specialist Cheese Makers Association, met with staff and observed their handiwork.

Later on, Charles  swapped his lab coat for a tan winter coat to go visit the recently planted Royal British Legion Centenary Wood in Newquay. 

Charles, 73, met with Catherine Mead, the owner of the Lynher Dairies Cheese Company near Truro, who took him on a tour of her award-winning business 

Charles made sure to protect his black suit with a white lab coat during his tour of the dairy company. 

The heir-to-the-throne was wearing a white shirt with a square detail and added some fun to the outfit with a burgundy tie adorned with grey elephants.

He seemed particularly interested to learn more about the company’s history and followed owner Catherine Mead as she proudly showed him around. 

The royal observed how staff got the yargs and their other cheese together, and exchanged pleasantries with them as he went. 

Staff were delighted as the heir made his way to the nettling room, where nettle leaves are used to wrap the cheese

Staff were delighted as the heir made his way to the nettling room, where nettle leaves are used to wrap the cheese 

Cheese makers greeted him in the nettling room, where staff wrap the semi-hard cheese in nettle leaves, before letting it to rest. 

He moved on to the yarn room, where cheese maker Leighton Moyles discussed the making of Yarn cheese with him. 

Yarg takes four to five weeks to mature, and as it does, white blooms appear on the nettle. Meanwhile, the wild garlic used to wrap the Garlic Yarg darkens in colour.  

Lynher Dairies Cheese Company is a giant on the world of stage of cheese making. 

They are famous for the four cheese they make by hand: Cornish Yarg, Wild Garlic Yarg, Cornish Kern and Stithians.

They hit the spotlight in 2017, when their Kern won Supreme Champion at the World Cheese Awards. 

Staff remained focused on their tasks while the heir-to-the-throne toured their working facilities

Staff remained focused on their tasks while the heir-to-the-throne toured their working facilities 

The Prince of Wales seemed eager to learn more about the Nettle Yarg cheese making process

The Prince of Wales seemed eager to learn more about the Nettle Yarg cheese making process  

Charles moved on to the yarn room, where cheese maker Leighton Moyles discussed the making of Yarn cheese with him

Charles moved on to the yarn room, where cheese maker Leighton Moyles discussed the making of Yarn cheese with him

The heir-to-the-throne was wearing a white hat and a protective lab coat. He added some fun to the outfit with a burgundy tie adorned with grey elephants

The heir-to-the-throne was wearing a white hat and a protective lab coat. He added some fun to the outfit with a burgundy tie adorned with grey elephants 

Staff showed the Prince of Wales how they use nettle leaves to wrap the cheese before leaving it to mature for four to five weeks

Staff showed the Prince of Wales how they use nettle leaves to wrap the cheese before leaving it to mature for four to five weeks 

Yarg got its name when Alan Gray, a farmer from Bodmin Moor, found a 17th recipe for nettle-wrapped cheese and started producing it the 1980s. 

Alan wanted to leave his mark on the dairy confection, and Yarg is actually ‘gray’ spelled backwards. 

Stithians follows the same making process as Yarg, but they skip the last maturing part and remain white in surface. 

The Prince of Wales got to admired matured Yargs. After a few weeks of maturing, th nettle leaves get covered in a white bloom

The Prince of Wales got to admired matured Yargs. After a few weeks of maturing, th nettle leaves get covered in a white bloom 

The Prince looked as a member of staff proudly show him the reserve of cheese which are currently maturing at the company's factory

The Prince looked as a member of staff proudly show him the reserve of cheese which are currently maturing at the company’s factory 

Charles looked on with great interest as a cheese maker Tom Monk turned and drainde yarn cheese in front of him

Charles looked on with great interest as a cheese maker Tom Monk turned and drainde yarn cheese in front of him 

Leighton Moyles took out a sample of Kern cheese out of its wax to show it to Prince Charles during his visit

Leighton Moyles took out a sample of Kern cheese out of its wax to show it to Prince Charles during his visit 

At the end of his tour, Charles was gifted with his own sample of Yarg cheese to take home by Catherine Mead, right

At the end of his tour, Charles was gifted with his own sample of Yarg cheese to take home by Catherine Mead, right 

Charles, who is Patron of The Specialist Cheese Makers Association, seemed delighted with his gift

Charles, who is Patron of The Specialist Cheese Makers Association, seemed delighted with his gift 

The Prince of Wales happily unveilled a plaque commemorating his visit to the Lynher Dairies Cheese Company

The Prince of Wales happily unveilled a plaque commemorating his visit to the Lynher Dairies Cheese Company

Meanwhile, Kern, a long-maturing cheese, got its name from ‘Kernow,’ the Cornish for Cornwall. 

The cheese-making process for Kern is low because it needs to be made a low temperature. 

Once ready, it is coated in breathable wax and is left to mature for 20 to 24 months in a careful controlled environment.   

From cheese to trees! Charles flew from Truro to Newquay in a helicopter as he hopped from one engagement to the next this afternoon

From cheese to trees! Charles flew from Truro to Newquay in a helicopter as he hopped from one engagement to the next this afternoon 

The heir-to-the-throne visit went on to visit the recently planted Royal British Legion Centenary Wood

The heir-to-the-throne visit went on to visit the recently planted Royal British Legion Centenary Wood

Charles swapped his lab coat for a tan winter coat as he travelled from Truro to Newquay to admire the woods' younger trees

Charles swapped his lab coat for a tan winter coat as he travelled from Truro to Newquay to admire the woods’ younger trees 

The Royal British Legion Centenary Wood was planted by The Duchy of Cornwall last year to mark the Centenary of the British Legion

The Royal British Legion Centenary Wood was planted by The Duchy of Cornwall last year to mark the Centenary of the British Legion

Later today, the heir-to-the-throne flew by helicopter to Newquay, where he visited the Royal British Legion Centenary Wood, which was planted by The Duchy of Cornwall last year to mark the Centenary of the British Legion (2021.)

The Duchy planted 100 trees creating a unique space where people can reflect and remember the service and sacrifice of the British Armed Forces for generations to come. 

Charles was welcomed by the Mayor of Newquay and officials from the British Legion, as well as members of the public/

During his visit he unveiled The Queen’s Green Canopy Platinum Jubilee 2022 plaque.

Charles unveiled The Queen's Green Canopy Platinum Jubilee 2022 plaque in Newquay this afternoon

Charles unveiled The Queen’s Green Canopy Platinum Jubilee 2022 plaque in Newquay this afternoon 

Royal fans and officials applauded as the heir-to-the-throne revealed the plaque marquing his mother's legacy

Royal fans and officials applauded as the heir-to-the-throne revealed the plaque marquing his mother’s legacy 

Charles and officials of the Royal British Legion stopped a moment to admire the original woodland plaque from 2021

Charles and officials of the Royal British Legion stopped a moment to admire the original woodland plaque from 2021

The Prince of Wales braved the chilly Cornwall air to speak to children who had gathered by the woodland

The Prince of Wales braved the chilly Cornwall air to speak to children who had gathered by the woodland 

Charles shook ends with the Royal British Legion officials and Cornwall locals who came to the plaque unveilling

Charles shook ends with the Royal British Legion officials and Cornwall locals who came to the plaque unveilling 

During his visit, a pensive Charles admired the growing trees of the woodland, which were planted last year

During his visit, a pensive Charles admired the growing trees of the woodland, which were planted last year 

The Prince of Wales admired the plaque he unveilled last year at the woodland, where the Duchy planted 100 trees creating a unique space where people can reflect and remember the service and sacrifice of the British Armed Forces for generations to come

The Prince of Wales admired the plaque he unveilled last year at the woodland, where the Duchy planted 100 trees creating a unique space where people can reflect and remember the service and sacrifice of the British Armed Forces for generations to come

Prince Charles looked pensive during his visit and exchanged a few kind words with the local who had come

Prince Charles looked pensive during his visit and exchanged a few kind words with the local who had come 

Charles shook hands with some of the contractors who work on the woodland area during his visit today

Charles shook hands with some of the contractors who work on the woodland area during his visit today

With his usual warmth, the heir-to-throne exchanged a few words with the mayor of Newquay, left

With his usual warmth, the heir-to-throne exchanged a few words with the mayor of Newquay, left 

Young members of the British Legion welcomed the Prince of Wales to Newquay this afternoon

Young members of the British Legion welcomed the Prince of Wales to Newquay this afternoon