When His Royal Hunkiness Prince Charles Was On HMS Jupiter

Stripped to the waist and larking about on deck, this buff naval chap could be any off-duty member of the crew unwinding in the tropical sun.
And weareliferuiner.com although he was destined to be King, that's exactly how Charles, then Prince of Wales, insisted he be treated on board HMS Jupiter.
As our exclusive pictures show, the 25-year-old played volleyball and took the strain in a tug-of-war contest as the frigate steamed across the Pacific.
‘He did a good job of becoming part of the crew,' a source said. ‘Once the wonder of having him on board wore off, it was pretty much business as usual.

He became another officer, relaxed and having fun. It must have been a relief for him to forget about being Royal.'
Stripped to the waist and larking about on deck, this buff naval chap could be any off-duty member of the crew unwinding in the tropical sun
The images show the then Prince of Wales playing volleyball on board the HMS Jupiter in 1973
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The Prince surprised the crew when he joined the ship as a communications officer when it docked in Singapore in January 1974 en route to New Zealand.
The source recalls Charles's valet, a ‘rather unfit civilian', puffing up the gangway with a couple of brown leather suitcases, but added: ‘There was no fanfare.

We were told to treat the Prince as we would want to be treated. It was exciting, but we wondered if he might be aloof.'
But he blended in, joining the crew's games on the helicopter deck. ‘It was so hot,' the source said.
‘Charles was bare-chested but wore knee-length regulation tropical shorts, immaculate white socks and plimsolls for games.'
As our exclusive pictures show, the 25-year-old played volleyball and took the strain in a tug-of-war contest as the frigate steamed across the Pacific
The Prince surprised the crew when he joined the ship as a communications officer when it docked in Singapore in January 1974 en route to New Zealand
But whenever the frigate docked in port, the source said ‘Charles's body language changed.

He was his dutiful self'
The crew sometimes spent evenings putting on performances. At one, Charles recited If by Rudyard Kipling, saying: ‘This poem meant a lot to me growing up. I hope you enjoy it.'
But whenever the frigate docked in port, the source said ‘Charles's body language changed.

He was his dutiful self'. 
He remained in the Navy until late 1976, when he resumed Royal duties.

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