The former star of hit BBC show One Man And His Dog has died at the age of 80, MailOnline can reveal.

Robin Page, a friend of King Charles and the late Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, died at his home in Cambridgeshire last Saturday after an 18-month cancer battle.

Mr Page, who was surrounded by his wife Lulu, three stepchildren and five-step grandchildren, had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

He was an outspoken commentator on rural issues and presented the long-running One Man And His Dog from 1994 until 2000.

The conservationist was also a best-selling writer, newspaper columnist and political campaigner and wrote on dozens of occasions for the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. 

Robin Page, the former star of hit BBC show One Man And His Dog has died at the age of 80, MailOnline can reveal

Mr Page, who was also a friend of King Charles, died at his home in Cambridgeshire last Saturday evening after a battle with cancer. Above: Mr Page with the King in 2003

Mr Page’s wife Lulu told MailOnline: ‘He was a good, honest country loving man who was hugely loved by his family. We will all miss him.’

Friends paid tribute to Mr Page, describing him as a ‘Great British eccentric’ who was not afraid to speak his mind.

His friend Marcus Stead, a freelance journalist, told MailOnline: ‘His legacy to the British countryside and its way of life is enormous. 

‘He was incredibly politically incorrect and anti-woke but at the same time he was generous, big hearted and had a fantastic spirit.

‘His knowledge on countryside issues was immense and he always spoke with authority about it which is why senior Royals and politicians listened to what he had to say. 

‘He was one of those people who made life in this country wonderful, and he always marched to his own beat.’

He added: ‘He was a great British eccentric, a lovely man to speak to and a man of great principle and integrity. That’s how I shall remember him.’ 

He co-founded the Countryside Restoration Trust (CRT), a charity which safeguards £33 million worth of farmland across 18 picturesque sites.

The King was a longstanding supporter of Mr Page and spoke at the Trust’s birthday party several years ago.

In 2016, Mr Page met the King for private talks at Clarence House. Afterwards, he called His Majesty a ‘good, green man’.

Both men shared a deep love for the countryside and the environment. 

Mr Page co-founded the Countryside Restoration Trust (CRT), a charity which safeguards £33 million worth of farmland across 18 picturesque sites. Above: Mr Page with actress Dame Judi Dench – the CRT’s patron – and celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in 2018

People paid tribute to Robin Page who died on Saturday aged 80

The CRT spoke of their ‘great sadness’ of learning of Mr Page’s death this evening.

A spokesperson said: ‘It is with great sadness that the Countryside Regeneration Trust has learned of the death of our co-founder, Robin Page.

‘A countryside champion with a maverick spirit, Robin’s fervent beliefs were amplified by his writing in publications such as the Daily Telegraph. Through his campaigning he was able to garner the financial support needed to launch the CRT and nearly 30-years later the CRT continues as a lasting legacy to his pioneering ways.​

‘Now is a time to pause and remember Robin’s contribution in the field of conservation, both through his writing and work with the CRT.

‘Although in recent times he was no longer involved in our operations, we are all reflecting on his role in creating a robust charity that remains focused on promoting sustainable farming, and reconnecting people with the wider countryside.’

Page established the CRT with artist Gordon Beningfield and conservationist Sir Laurens van der Post – Charles’s mentor and Prince William’s godfather – in 1993.

The CRT has said of their ‘great sadness’ of learning of the death of Mr Page (pictured in a field in Cambridgeshire) death this evening

The organisation was set up in response to growing fears about intensive and industrialised farming. 

Mr Stead added: ‘My thoughts of Robin is that he was a man of great integrity. He was an antithesis to the modern day BBC. 

‘He certainly wasn’t part of the woke brigade. He had some very unfashionable views on man-made climate change, which he didn’t believe in, and also wasn’t a fan of what I would call trendy farming. 

‘His views on rural affairs were evidence based and came from a lifetime of experience.

‘He was also a fine Brexiteer. That was one of the main things that he and I had in common.’

Greg Lance-Watkins, 77, from the Forest of Dean, who knew Mr Page’s for around 20 years, paid tribute to his ‘reliable’ and ‘wise’ friend.

He told MailOnline: ‘Being rooted in agriculture, as his father was before him, he was a very authoritative voice.

‘Robin was a reliable friend, an interesting conversationalist with a wide range of knowledge and views. He was very well travelled, he had for instance been the top of Kilimanjaro twice.

‘Robin had written about 30 books by the time he died. He had tried to complete one before he died but sadly he didn’t finish it. He was an accomplished footballer, a sport which he continued to play until his late 60s.

‘I phoned up a friend yesterday to tell him Robin had died and he said his death was a “loss to mankind”.

‘His friend’s mother used to cut out his articles and give them to him to read. He used to say “Robin had more common sense about the countryside and village life in his little finger than the department of agriculture had in their entirety”.’

Commenting on his relationship with King Charles, Mr Lance-Watkins added: ‘He was a regular communicator with the Duke of Edinburgh with Prince Charles and he stayed with Prince Charles for a couple of days last year in Scotland with his wife Lulu. And he was much trusted as an adviser on countryside by Charles.’

He added that Mr Page’s death was ‘a sad loss to the community who may not notice that his passing will impact on their lives – and personally I will deeply miss our lengthy conversations, he had so much wisdom.’

The Countryman magazine paid tribute to Mr Page, who wrote for the publication from 1996 until last year.

They shared a clipping of the first article he wrote for them in Winter 1996, on ‘the pleasures of ice and cold and carol singing’.

The tribute said: ‘We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Robin Page, who sadly passed away on Saturday 27th May.

‘Robin wrote articles for The Countryman, from late 1996 to December 2022. Here is part of Robin’s very first article, published in Winter 1996.’