On Thursday night he was hosting the likes of pop star Cheryl and Burberry model Neelam Gill at a glittering charity gala at St James' Palace.

But the following morning Prince Charles' diary of engagements looked quite different - kicking off with a face to face meeting with a ram.

The Prince of Wales was at the Bulford Camp in Salisbury, Wiltshire on Friday, to visit the 1st Battalion of The Mercian Regiment, starting with its four-legged mascot - named Private Derby XXXII.

The royal's visit marked his 10 year anniversary as Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment.

Scroll down for video

The Prince of Wales arrived at the Bulford Camp in Salisbury, Wiltshire, to visit the 1st Battalion of The Mercian Regiment on Friday

The Prince, 68, was snapped petting the inquisitive creature as he chatted to members of the regiment in Wiltshire.

Kitted out with the regiment's headgear, the ram appeared taken with Charles, nuzzling his hand gently.

Charles then moved on to greeting members of the regiment individually, shaking the hands of the soldiers.

The Prince donned a helmet before later taking a spin on a tank at the barracks in Bulford

Charles, who is Commander in Chief of the Mercian Regiment, wore protective gear to man the tank during a training exercise

The Royal's visit marked 10 years as colonel-in-chief and 40 years since becoming colonel-in-chief of the Cheshire Regiment, which preceded it

Prince Charles attended in full military uniform, and greeted members of the regiment along with meeting their mascot goat

As well as the visit to the Bulford Camp 1st Battalion of The Mercian Regiment, Charles had a range of activities lined up in Wiltshire.

He was due to go on to present medals to officers returning from Iraq and South Sudan, as well as meeting their families.

The Prince was due to finish his day with a trip to the Salisbury Plain, where the regiment was set to showcase its equipment and capabilities.

Contrast: The previous night, the Prince hosted Cheryl, Dame Helen Mirren and others at St James's Palace

Kitted out with the regiment's headgear, the ram took quite an interest in the Prince, nuzzling his hand gently

Dressed in the full camouflage military uniform, Charles was seen greeting the mascot goat, before petting the inquisitive creature

The members of the Regiment appeared quite amused at the creature's curiosity

On Thursday night the Prince welcomed a glittering crowd to St James's Palace for the Invest in Futures reception.

Guests included Dame Helen Mirren, Tom Jones, and Cheryl.

The initiative raises funds to help disadvantaged young people in the UK become economically active.

The royal looked right at home in control of the tank at the barracks in the Wiltshire countryside

He seemed quite taken with the regal ram as he joked with the soldiers

Charles then moved on to greeting members of the regiment individually, shaking the hands of the soldiers

In 2007, the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment, the Staffordshire Regiment and the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters merged into one and was named the Mercian Regiment

At the time he said: 'I have no doubt that the Mercian Regiment will stand firm and strike hard just as its predecessor regiments did in all four corners of the world.'

Prince Charles was later seen talking to troops during a training exercise on his visit

Officers helped Prince Charles adjust his helmet as he prepared to ride on the tank

He appeared in good spirits as he enjoyed a ride on the magnificent vehicle

He chatted to the officer as he enjoyed the ride through their barracks in Wiltshire