ROYAL TOUR: Charles talks with farmer while Camilla waits for her coffee in Florence
THE Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall started their day in Florence like typical Italians, with a coffee - but Camilla had to wait for hers.
Charles and Camilla stop for coffee during Florence visit
Charles had a steaming cup poured for him almost as soon as the couple arrived at a popular cafe in an indoor food market in the historic city, but Camilla had to order her cappuccino.
The royal couple, who are touring Europe, began their day by highlighting the produce of Italy with visits to the indoor market and a nearby restaurant and theatre - where Charles found himself betting with a farmer about who could produce the best cured meat.
As the Prince drank his coffee while standing at the bar of Cafe Barni, he offered his wife a sip of his cup but she indicated hers was coming.
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When the order arrived a few minutes later, the Duchess only had time for a few mouthfuls before they moved on to visit other food retailers in the market which dates from the late 19th century.
"We are very good at making coppa because we have very good meat - so I think I will beat the Prince
Cafe owner Paolo Baracani served Charles his coffee and joked later that officials had only pre-ordered one coffee for the royal visitors.
Later the Prince put his food credentials on the line when he accepted a taste challenge from an Italian farmer over who makes the best cold cut when they met at an event showcasing Italian produce.
Charles, who makes a cold pork cut called coppa from pigs he rears, pitted his produce against that made by farmer Mario De Santis, who had taken some of his delicacies to the event.
The farmer said later: "We are very good at making coppa because we have very good meat - so I think I will beat the Prince."
The pair met in the Theatro Del Sale, a theatre and restaurant where produce from Italian regions devastated by recent earthquakes was on display, from cold meats like salami and prosciutto to craft beers, bread and cheeses.
Food campaigner Carlo Petrini, who started the "slow food" movement with a group of activists in the 1980s to defend regional produce, took Charles around the displays.
He said: "Prince Charles makes a wonderful kind of cured meat that is made from the pig's neck that is called coppa, that's made on his organic farm, and is one of the best in the world."
