Charles reveals his favourite vegetables

For most, Brassica oleracea var gemmifera is a yule-tide endurance. But for the Prince of Wales, the brussels sprout is not just for Christmas - it's for life.

On a visit to a school in Gloucestershire yesterday, he confessed that the sprout - which routinely tops polls of the country's most hated - is his joint favourite vegetable.

But, perhaps to show he is not so far removed from his subjects in matters of taste, Prince Charles also admitted to a liking for the inoffensive leek.

During a nutrition lesson at Brimsham Green school in Yate, the prince was asked to name his favourite vegetable.

"I rather like brussels sprouts," he replied, before adding "and leeks are a very good Welsh vegetable".

Mr Welberry is able to find as much merit in the sprout as the prince does: it is full of vitamins, low in fat, packed with folic acid and a great source of dietary fibre. New breeding techniques, he claims, have eliminated bitter sprouts.

"It's a marvellous little ball," he enthuses. "But we are fighting against people's idea of what sprouts were like when they were kids. They're not like that any more. Prince Charles is now a hero to us."

Sadly, the prince appears to be somewhat lonely in his appreciation of sprouts. In February it was voted - not for the first time - Britain's most hated vegetable.

The leek presents a different story. Allium porum is renowned for its mild, soothing taste. Jonathan Hammond, who grows leeks in Nottinghamshire, said: "They are milder than an onion and have a very smooth taste."

Leeks, though a little difficult to clean, are reputed to lower cholesterol and contain cancer-preventing anti-oxidants.

Unfortunately, both the prince's favourite vegetables are out of season.

Choices of the famous

We asked: what are your favourite vegetables, and why?

Stephen Fry writer and actor - cauliflower and leeks, and peas a close-ish third. "Reasons why one prefers one vegetable over another? Darling, get a grip"

Ann Widdecombe Conservative MP -courgettes and cabbages: "the small green ones"

Simon Hughes Lib Dem London mayoral candidate - spinach and peas..."Spinach will be the new big thing and I recommend it be steamed with cracked black pepper"

Baroness Greenfield director, Royal Institution of Great Britain - mashed potatoes "because they are comfort food and go with lots of other things, and corn on the cob because it was a great treat when I was young as they were deemed to be a great luxury"

Stephen Norris Conservative London mayoral candidate - asparagus and sweetcorn

Sir Jimmy Savile entertainer - "The same as him [Prince of Wales] but the other way round - leeks and sprouts"

Ian McEwan author -potatoes and broccoli

Heston Blumenthal owner of the award-winning Fat Duck restaurant - potatoes and onions "because they are so versatile"

Andrew Motion poet laureate - carrots "so I can see in the dark and broad beans...I'm absolutely crazy about broad beans"

Rowan Pelling editor of the Erotic Review - broad beans "from our allotment, and asparagus, of course - those mighty spears"

Joan Bakewell writer and broadcaster - spinach. "The taste, the texture and the wonderful things you can do with it...and of course I remember Popeye!" Britain's sprout farmers - they like to drop the brussels - were delighted at the prince's revelation. "It's bloody brilliant, and we didn't pay him to say it," said Roger Welberry, who grows 202 hectares (500 acres) of sprouts near Boston, Lincolnshire.

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