Sydney man recalls teaching then-Prince Charles how to surf

Bondi local Peter Koutouzis was 15 when he met Prince Charles, then 29, on Bondi Beach in November 1977.

Koutouzis joined the prince for paddling and surfing at 7am, teaching the future king how to ride the waves.

Today, three days before the king fell again, Koutouzis recalled the day they met.

He was approaching Bondi Beach with his friends when he noticed the surf club was setting up patrols for the day.

One of the lifeguards, who knew Koutouzis, asked him if he wanted to teach someone to surf, but he didn’t specify who.

Then, Prince Charles approached with a group of people. 

“I never knew who this person was, it didn’t come to light until the introductions were made… We shook hands.”

“It was a surprise… There I was in my swim trunks and a wet (suit)… (and I) was looking at him and thinking… ‘wow’.”

The two men headed out into the waves together, without security guards and away from the usual crowds.

“We just talked, greeted each other, talked about how to understand the board, how to balance, how to surf, paddle the wave.”

“He wanted to do it himself… He did a good job!”

“He was excited about the opportunity to get away from a lot of people and do something different,” Koutouzis said.

“He didn’t depend on anyone and his guards were distant.”

After his time in the water was over, he went home and told his family what happened.

“You know I told my family you won’t believe it… I met the prince of England, the future king, on the beach,” he told 9News.

“They just said, ‘Stop it, man… Please talk about everyone like that.’ They didn’t believe me!”

King Charles will return to Australia this week, with Bondi Beach not on the itinerary for this trip.

But Koutouzis says there is an open invitation to return.