Prince William met with 91-year-old Grandma Betty on a visit to a family-run farm in Herefordshire, where he learned the family’s wartime secret. During the Prince of Wales's visit to the Bowler farm, the family’s matriarch shared that during World War II, they kept a “contraband pig” in the barn. During the war, rationing meant a family could only own one pig, so they had to sneak a full-grown pig into the hayloft during official visits.
John Bowler, the farm’s owner, sought support from We Are Farming Minds, an organization that promotes mental wellbeing and support for farmers and those in the farming community. The charity was created in 2020 by a Duchy of Cornwall tenant, and Prince William became patron of the charity in March 2025.
