Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan told the Prince of Wales that Donald Trump “sends his regards” as the royal met with stars of ITV’s daytime line-up.
Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visited the broadcaster’s studios in central London to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Royal Television Society, of which Charles is a patron.
As they met, Charles referenced Morgan’s interview with the US president which aired on Sunday, to which the Good Morning Britain presenter replied: “He sends his regards.”
The couple later enjoyed some mutton hotpot – a favourite dish of the Prince – on the set of This Morning, and chatted at length with presenters Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
Charles and Camilla became the first signatories of the show’s new visitor’s book, created to mark 30 years of the weekday programme, and were gifted with honey produced at the studios.
Charles was later upstaged by excited eight-month-old studio dog Digby, who lunged at a microphone, retrieved it and passed it to the royal shortly before he met ITV production staff.
The royals greeted a string of famous faces including Morgan’s co-presenter Susanna Reid and Eamonn Holmes, who was recently awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list, before they headed to a reception to honour Charles.
The Prince, who has been a patron of the society since 1997, was presented with the RTS Gold medal – the society’s highest accolade – in recognition of his support over the years.
He joked he would wear the prize “around his neck” for his next visit and praised the “impressive” members of the RTS, telling them he was “proud” to be a patron.
He told a room of 200 guests including television executives, MPs and students: “I know how vital it is to maintain … the quality of what we produce, which is quite remarkable, I think.
“If you go around the world and sometimes watch television in other places, that’s what makes you realise, more than anything else, how brilliantly professional it is in this country.”
The couple topped off the event with the cutting of a gold-frosted cake.
Charles was introduced to recipients of the RTS bursary scheme which he set up in 2013 to help young people from poorer backgrounds get a start in the media industry.
Recent graduates Jonas Mondua and Suzanne Pearson said the programme had been “very beneficial” and both had landed jobs after graduating from the University of York.
Some 93 students have benefited from the scheme throughout its five years.
The RTS is an educational charity promoting the “art and science of television” and is supported by the BBC, Sky, ITV and Channel 4.