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Britain's Prince Charles Meets With Obama

President Barack Obama (r) meets with Britain's Prince Charles in the Oval Office of the White House, May 4, 2011

Britain's Prince Charles has met with U.S. President Barack Obama during an official visit to Washington.

The conversation Wednesday at the White House was not open to the press, but was expected to focus on energy and environmental issues.

Earlier, the Prince of Wales addressed those topics at a sustainable food production conference at Georgetown University. The prince, an environmental advocate, said sustainable agriculture will be paramount to creating lasting food systems for the future.

Prince Charles said the global ecosystem is, "to say the least, under stress" and not sustainable. He said the heart of the problem lies in what he called the industrialized world's disregard for the importance of sustainable local farming.

He urged action to produce a more resilient system of food production to ensure a more viable future for the global environment. Prince Charles says local, sustainable farming is key in maintaining the resiliency of the entire ecosystem.

The heir to the British throne has had his own organic farm for 25 years. The farm raises animals native to the United Kingdom, sells organic food and educates people on food, farming, health and the environment.

The prince's visit comes just days after the marriage of his elder son, Prince William, to Kate Middleton in a ceremony broadcast worldwide.

Prince Charles is on a three-day official tour of the United States. He arrived Tuesday and visited the U.S. Supreme Court for a reception. He also toured an urban farm that grows food for low-income city residents.

Also Wednesday, he was scheduled to attend an event to support British and American armed forces deployed overseas.

The prince last visited the United States in 2007 with his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. The couple attended events in New York and Philadelphia and visited four other U.S. cities.

Video footage of Prince Charles' visit to Washington, DC.