After speaking to employees of the firm, which has been hit by the recession, he told JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford: "I have heard how everyone is coping and coming together as a team."

Welcoming the Prince, Sir Anthony said: "It really is an important day for us, 750,000 machines is a lot of machines for anybody.

"We have been very privileged over the years to welcome so many members of your family to JCB. JCB has come a long way over the last 63 years, from my father's first ever product, a farm trailer, to 750,000 machines.

"We would not have done it without our people, the people I call the JCB family."

Ryecroft Middle School pupil Ashton Harrison shook hands with the second in line to the throne.

The 12-year-old from Rocester said: “It’s brilliant to think that I’ve met a future king of England.

“I was tongue-tied and only said hello but he seemed really nice. It was much better than having normal lessons.”

Welding team leader Mick Grantham, aged 53, of Uttoxeter, said: “He asked me how I find life at JCB and I told it was hard as some of my friends have gone.

“It was a fantastic morale boost and it was good to know that the Royal family are behind us.”

Sir Anthony Bamford said: "We’ve been privileged over the years to welcome many members of your family to JCB.

"We were honoured to have a visit by the Queen and Prince Philip during 1995 and also the Prince of Wales has visited us twice, the first time was in 1977 when he met Alice, my two-year-old daughter.

"It gives me great personal pleasure from our family firm to welcome the younger generation from your family firm to our company today."

Prince William today sat on the 750,000th machine made by JCB during a visit to the company's world headquarters.

Arriving at the plant in Staffordshire, the Prince was greeted by hundreds of screaming schoolchildren before being shown around the world-famous construction equipment manufacturer.