King Charles marks JCB’s 80th birthday with HQ visit

^{John E. Kaye
Tuesday 25th February 2025
10:30am GMT}

The King was greeted by cheering crowds and waving flags on Monday as he marked construction behemoth JCB’s 80th birthday.

The monarch made a royal entrance as he walked through two diggers positioned by his State Bentley to ‘salute’ him at the firm’s world headquarters in Staffordshire, England.

He was met by Lord and Lady Bamford before taking a tour of the company’s Innovation Centre where he was shown one of the first line of new diggers to be powered by hydrogen.

His Majesty also walked the assembly line of the JCB backhoe, a machine invented by JCB’s founder, the late Cyril Bamford CBE.

Charles, 76, even helped fit a wheel with team leader Becky Bayliss.

JCB – known for manufacturing construction, agricultural and demolition equipment – is the third largest company in its category, worldwide, and employs 7,500 people in the UK.

The firm was awarded a Royal Warrant in January. 

Charles’ visit marked the production of the one millionth backhoe loader digger, an invention which replaced men with shovels, pickaxes and hods and mechanised the labour-intensive process of digging holes and earthmoving around the world.

He spent more than an hour touring the vast headquarters where he also met employees, apprentices, and their families.

After unveiling a plaque to mark his visit, he left to a chorus of cheers from thousands of flag-waving JCB employees who lined the route of his departure.

JCB chairman Lord Bamford said: “It is a real honour for us all that that The King has visited JCB to help us celebrate 80 years in business.

“It was also a great pleasure to show The King the progress we are making with hydrogen powered machines.

“Today was an occasion that will live long in the memories of everyone who was present.”

The King later visited Tower Brewery, an independent, family run small brewery in Burton-on-Trent, where he pulled pints and learned more about the process of producing real ales.