Prince William has been urged to "speak up" about an important issue for farmers.
A farming mental health charity supported by the future King has reported a direct link between recent Government inheritance tax changes and a surge in farmers experiencing mental health crises.
We Are Farming Minds says it has been inundated with farmers seeking help in recent months.
The charity, established in 2020, provides mental health support to the farming community, which has one of the highest suicide rates of any industry.
Prince William urged to ‘speak up’ as farmers face mental health crisis
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Sam and Emily Stables founded the charity after Sam attempted to take his own life. Sam has spoken openly about his experience to encourage others to seek help.
"[Farming has] one of the highest suicide rates of any industry [and] the pressures that the farming community are under are beyond immense," he said. "It's not a job, it's a life, it's a family, it's everything."
The couple aim to address the unique mental health challenges faced by those in agriculture.
As tenants on the Duchy estate, the Stables have received support from Prince William, who became one of Britain's biggest landowners when he inherited the Duchy of Cornwall.
William and Kate visit the We Are Farming Minds Charity at Kings Pitt Farm in HerefordPAGareth Wyn Jones, a farmer from North Wales involved in recent farming protests, believes the Prince of Wales has a "duty" to do more.
"They've been very, very quiet, the prince and the King," he told Sky News.
"Prince William has the Duchy of Cornwall, now he's running that, he should be connecting to these people."
The Prince of Wales has publicly spoken about being an ardent supporter of the farming community, but faces a delicate balance between showing "empathic leadership" on social issues and maintaining political neutrality as heir to the throne.
Prince William visiting Lower Blakemere Farm, a Duchy Focus Farm in HerefordPAThe changes to inheritance tax, revealed in the budget and set to come into force in April 2026, will see death duties payable by some farmers on agricultural and business property.
The Treasury estimates the changes will rise to £520million a year.
Farmers and campaigners warn these changes threaten the future of thousands of multi-generational family farms.
Many fear they will be forced to sell land or assets to pay the tax bill when inheriting family farms.
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Prince William's visit to Lower Blakemere Farm on the Duchy of Cornwall estate left one tenant farmer particularly struck by the royal's stature
GettyEmily says her charity has "already had 11 counselling referrals this year alone, which is busy for us".
"I think people are just feeling that... it is the straw that broke the camel's back," she added.
A Government spokesperson told Sky that they are "committed to tackling the mental health crisis in our farming communities."
They added that they are investing billions of pounds and recruiting 8,500 mental health professionals across the NHS. They also claim to be implementing reforms to boost profits for farmers by backing British produce and reforming planning rules.
Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.
