Prince Charles meets President Obama at White House

(CBS/AP) President Obama congratulated Prince Charles on his son's royal wedding, and offered his best wishes to the newlyweds during a get-together at the White House on Wednesday.

The president also welcomed the Prince of Wales' work on environmental issues, including halting deforestation, and encouraging production of sustainable food, the White House said in a statement.

Pictures: Prince Charles in Washington
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Mr. Obama  also thanked Charles for the contributions of British forces to the wars in Afghanistan and Libya.

The meeting comes before Obama visits Charles's mother, Queen Elizabeth II, for an official state visit to England later this month - his first to a European country. The trip includes a ceremonial welcome, a banquet and a stay at Buckingham Palace.

The prince is on a three-day visit to Washington. On Tuesday, he visited the Supreme Court and a small urban farm that grows produce for low-income residents.  He later attended a reception at the British Embassy celebrating the British Forces Foundation and United Service Organizations (USO).

On Wednesday, he delivered the keynote address at a conference on the future of food at Georgetown University.

The heir to Britain's throne is a firm supporter of environmental causes and runs an organic farm on his Highgrove estate in western England. He has a line of organic foods, Duchy Originals, which donates profits to his charities,

During his speech, Charlescriticized government subsidies for large-scale agriculture and encouraged more government and business support for organic and environmentally friendly food production.

He also praised first lady Michelle Obama's campaign to combat childhood obesity and hunger along with U.S. manufacturers' efforts to produce healthier foods.