'I'd be in the gym for three days!' Prince William jokes as he meets young farmers in Yorkshire

Prince William joked he would "be in the gym for three days" as he eyed up boxes of calorific confectionery while meeting young farmers in the Yorkshire Dales today.

The Prince of Wales arrived in Swaledale, a valley in North Yorkshire, bearing a delectable variety of delicious desserts on Tuesday.

He greeted locals with a warm smile and his characteristic wit and humour.

As he began handing out the sweet treats, he pointed at one and quipped: "That is a Twix mountain of calorie grenade!"

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He added, "I have my eye on the chocolate," before exclaiming: "That Twix thing is insane - if I ate that, I’d be in the gym for about three days!"

The heir to the throne said he asked a local bakery, Reeth's Dales Bike Centre, where the "spread" was said to be "exceptional", to "help me out for a bunch of farmers".

The visit took place at Crow Trees Farm in Swaledale, where Adam Hunter, 37, runs a sheep and cattle operation alongside his wife Leanne and their children Annie and Ted.

Neighbouring farmers joined the gathering too, including Philip Metcalfe, 53, and his son James, 23, from Usha Gap Farm, where they've opened a campsite, plus Michael and Hannah Waggett, both 36, from nearby Satron Farm.

William, who as Duke of Cornwall is himself a major landowner, praised the Metcalfe's close bond: "You clearly have a good relationship, not every generation I have seen has that."

As Mr Hunter brewed tea and coffee from the back of his all-terrain vehicle, William asked about the "headwinds" facing the industry, particularly rising fuel costs.

"He understood the area and understood a lot more than you would think," Mr Hunter told reporters afterwards.

Mrs Waggett, who also works at a local primary school, came away feeling the prince genuinely supported their cause.

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"It felt like he was on our side," she said.

Later in the day, William made his way to Bainbridge, a village in Wensleydale, to see a community energy project that's been quietly powering local homes for over a decade.

An Archimedes screw installed in the River Bain back in 2011 generates enough electricity for around 30 households in the area.

Retired engineer Tom Fairey, who serves as a director of the hydro-plant, was impressed by the royal visitor's engagement with the technical details.

"He asked a lot of sensible and intuitive questions," Mr Fairey said afterwards.

Before heading off, William popped into Hammonds Butchers and spent time chatting with well-wishers who had gathered on the village green.

The visit marked his first official engagement since celebrating his 15th wedding anniversary with the Princess of Wales on April 29 and Princess Charlotte's 11th birthday on May 2.

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