IT was a case of British royalty meeting another "royal family" when Prince Charles bumped into the Irwins on Lady Elliott Island.

The Prince of Wales had received a hero's welcome from tourists when he landed on the island on Friday, before being greeted by Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin.

Dressed in their trademark khaki, they shared a laugh about how the prince was dressed in the same coloured suit.

Robert Irwin, a keen photographer, presented Prince Charles of Wales with a canvas of a photo he had taken of a sea turtle.

The prince then had the chance to hold a turtle hatchling, before he made his way to a meeting with some of Australia's most prominent business leaders.

Executives from BHP, Qantas and LendLease all gathered on the island for a round table discussion about how to better protect and save the Great Barrier Reef.

Prince Charles, a passionate conservationist, went on a boat tour before returning to Brisbane.