The Prince of Wales was yesterday crowned Prince of Ploughmen when he attended the World Ploughing Championships in Ballykelly, Co Derry.
For the prince, who is thought to have the largest farm holdings in Britain, endeared himself to the plough people by tilling the soil himself and turning the sod behind a pair of Clydesdales.
Organisers of the event were surprised, to say it mildly, when their VIP offered to plough a furrow behind a team of horses owned by Mr Derek Espie, from Cookstown, Co Tyrone.
"I could not believe it when he grabbed the plough and took off behind the horses," said Mr William King, chairman of the Northern Ireland Ploughing Association, who had shown the prince around the huge site.
"He was totally relaxed, and spoke to a large number of people and, what was more important, he spoke to nearly half of the competitors," said a delighted Mr King.
To add to his pleasure, Prince Charles also made an unscheduled speech to the crowd, and spoke about the changes that were being faced by farmers because of the reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy. He said farming folk were adaptable, and would take the best they could from whatever situation would arise.
Mr King said that he had taken the prince to the crafts area where he was very interested in the locally-produced goods.
"He was very relaxed, as was the security. We all had a wonderful time, and it was a great tribute to ploughing people," he said.
A crowd of about 5,000 were at this site yesterday where over the next two days ploughmen from 28 counties will be battling for the most coveted world titles.
The prince and the ploughmen were in Northern Ireland because the current holder of the world title is Mr David Wright from nearby Magherafelt, Co Derry. He attended yesterday but cannot compete under the rules of the association.
Representing Northern Ireland will be Mr Samuel Gill, from Crossgar, and Mr Thomas Cochrane, from near Coleraine. Mr Cochrane already hold a world title from 1997 and has been Ulster champion eight times.
Representing the Republic is Mr Eamon Tracey, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, who had a short conversation with Prince Charles, and Mr Sean Keating, from New Ross, who between them hold nine all-Ireland Championships.
While much smaller than the National Ploughing Championships in the Republic, the event did manage to attract more than 5,000 to the site yesterday and, weather permitting, that figure could be trebled over the next two days.
The 250-acre site on which the event is taking place is unusual insofar as it is below sea level at high tide, and the water has to be pumped continuously from the site by pumps.