The couple came over All Creatures Great And Small at the Great Yorkshire Show. The Prince, 72, trod in the dung while talking to South Devon cattle judge Anne Tully. She cheerfully revealed: “I told him that was luck. That’s what we always say.”

       Meanwhile the Duchess of Cornwall, 73 – looking chic in a navy spotted dress and blazer – chatted to pink-haired Deb Howe.

       Deb told her she conserves rare breeds before Camilla held a chick more conventionally.

       The Royal was a little more reserved when faced with a hairy tarantula.

       But she braved a hedgehog’s prickles – and was tickled by a garden gnome that looked like Alan Titchmarsh.

       The show is being held at Harrogate on the edge of the Dales where James Herriot set his books.

       Charles used the occasion to launch his A-Zero Guide which aims to demystify the jargon in environmental agriculture methods.

       He said: “Once we all understand what we need to do, the next step is to do it.”