Prince Charles: My endless ridicule

Last updated at 11:31 07 April 2006


The Prince of Wales has given an interview to Men's Health magazine in which he laments his public image as the 'Potty Prince'.

Charles also discussed his views on staying fit and also talked about the influence women can have on male well being.

Men's Health is mostly aimed men in their 30s and dedicates itself to the subjects of fitness, health and sex.

Charles, who is 57, tells the magazine in his first interview for the publication: "I've been labelled the 'Potty Prince' and all that stuff.

"There's been endless ridiculing and rubbishing, endless laughing full stop.

"But is it so controversial to suggest that we are actually made up of mind, body and spirit and not just of the body?"

On how men can be encouraged to pay more attention to their health, he remarked: "Via the ladies, I'd have thought.

"It's funny, the influence that women can have on getting us men sorted out is enormous."

The magazine - famous for the rippling muscles of its cover models - called him a "Great British Pioneer, a dissident defender of the nation's health".

Men's Health is currently asking its readers to enter a competition to be a cover model if they have a "cracking body" and asks them to send in a photo of their head and chest, minus shirts.

"Build big arms fast - it's easier than you think", "Flatten your belly" and "120 seconds to more sex" are among the headlines alongside "World exclusive interview Prince Charles - HRH's Red Carpet to Wellness".

The Prince - who does not grace the cover - says in the interview: "I'm not a medical man, but I am a historian. I've got a degree. They can't take that away from me. History is a very valuable tool I think for understanding a lot of things."

A Clarence House spokesman said: "We were very happy to do the interview. Men's Health asked the Prince to do it for their Best of British section.

"They wanted to look at his contribution to health matters. It was a great chance to reach out to an audience of young men."

The issue goes on sale on Monday.

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