British-headquartered heavy equipment maker JCB celebrated its 80th birthday in right royal style with a visit from His Majesty King Charles to its Staffordshire Innovation Centre on Monday.

His Majesty was particularly interested in JCB’s development of a hydrogen combustion engine, announced in January, following a GBP100 million (USD122.15 million) investment.

The King toured the innovation centre and helped to fit a wheel to a JCB digger and met with apprentices on the production line including Eleanor Pitt who is the second female welding apprentice to join the company.

Among those he met on the visit were members of the Boot and Harrison families who have between them, notched up 1,000 years of combined service for the company. Bill Boot started with the company in 1949 and 27 of his family have gone on to be JCB employees. Ken Harrison started with the company in 1953 and his family members have amassed 350 years of service between them.

JCB chairman Lord Anthony Bamford says of the visit: “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,” Bamford adds. “Today was an occasion that will live long in the memories of everyone who was present.”