Always eager to put forward his views on rural affairs, the Prince of Wales has held his first private meeting with Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary.
Her spokesman is keen to make clear that there was, however, one issue which remained firmly off the agenda at Clarence House last week: genetically modified crops.
"I can't disclose what they talked about, but I can confirm that GM didn't come up at any point in their discussions," he declares.
Last month, Spelman came out in favour of genetically modified crops and announced a trial of GM potatoes in Norfolk. The heir to the throne has often warned about the dangers posed by GM crops.
In his memoirs, Lord Mandelson discloses that he telephoned the Prince, on Tony Blair's instructions, and ordered him to stop attacking GM crops.
"Like Tony, I felt his remarks were becoming unhelpful," writes the peer. "They were anti-scientific and irresponsible in the light of food shortages in the developing world."
Mandelson adds: "I am sure Charles didn't change his mind as a result of our conversation, but he did tone down his public interventions."
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