King Charles flaunts his dancing skills with scantily clad dancers in hilarious picture from royal tour

King Charles flaunts his dancing skills in a hilarious throwback picture - and there's actually a really sweet story behind it

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales visits supplier of protective, medical and defence equipment, BCB International, on May 14, 2021 in Cardiff, United Kingdom.
(Image credit: Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

King Charles has gained a reputation for being somewhat light on his feet and never shying away from a chance to show off his twinkle toes. However, there's one particular anecdote about an official royal tour to Brazil when a former dancing partner challenged him to samba with her once again.


Britain's Prince Charles dances Caribo, an Amazonic traditional dance, with a local dancer during his visit to Maguari Community near Santarem, Para State, northern Brazil on March 14, 2009. Prince Charles is on a five-day official visit to Brazil, in which he visited Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Manaus and Santarem. AFP PHOTO/Evaristo SA

(Image credit: EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images)

During a Royal Tour of Chile, Brazil, and Ecuador - the King took his chance to have a dance while in Brazil. In fact, he proved quite popular during his visit to Maguari Community near Santarem, Para State, northern Brazil - where he danced with local women.

It's hard to believe that the head of the British Royal Family loves a bit of a boogie and has no problem hitting the dancefloor during public events. 

Countless examples include the time the then Prince Charles showed off his dancing skills at a pre-Platinum Jubilee event. And who could forget the toe-curlingly awkward scenes from back when he was Prince of Wales in The Crown season 5, when many wondered - did Prince Charles really breakdance? 

Yes, he actually did and that's the tip of the iceberg for this fan of taking a whirl.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - 1978: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales dances with a Samba dancer at a party at the Town Hall in 1978 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

(Image credit: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)

Back in 1978, then Prince Charles famously danced with a samba dancer during his first visit to Brazil. 

Ahead of his return to the country, he revealed that he'd actually been in touch with the samba dancer, per the Daily Mail, who invited him to dance again.

During a speech, King Charles referred to his night with the carnival dancer. "On that first visit I can remember dancing a somewhat rudimentary version of the samba with a rather dramatically semi-naked lady here in Rio," he said.

"Thirty years later and prior to this visit the lady concerned has been in touch to suggest a slightly more staid re-run of the Samba. Do I accept the challenge?"

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall watch traditional Samba dancers perform during a tour of the Marie Complexo Favela on March 12, 2009 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The Prince and the Duchess are in Brazil as part of a ten day tour of South America taking in Chile, Brazil, Ecuador and the Galapagos.

(Image credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

On arriving at the Complexo da Mare, a collection of favelas in Rio, alongside Queen Camilla - the King was met once again with a group of samba dancers. This time around, he was far more bashful about showing off his moves.

The Evening Standard reported at the time that he said, "I was grabbed by these girls outside and made to do the samba just now." Adding that his excuse for holding back on the action was, "I don't think I'm properly dressed for it. I'm too hot."

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall join traditional Samba dancers as they perform during a tour of the Marie Complexo Favela on March 12, 2009 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The Prince and the Duchess are in Brazil as part of a ten day tour of South America taking in Chile, Brazil, Ecuador and the Galapagos.

(Image credit: John Stillwell/WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Not one to spoil all the fun, King Charles chose to play a local instrument as his way of getting in on the action.

As the King settles into life as a monarch, only time will tell if he continues to jump on any opportunity to dance - or if he'll finally hang up his dancing shoes.

Aoife Hanna
Junior News Editor

Aoife is an Irish journalist and writer with a background in creative writing, comedy, and TV production.

Formerly woman&home's junior news editor and a contributing writer at Bustle, her words can be found in the Metro, Huffpost, Delicious, Imperica and EVOKE.

Her poetry features in the Queer Life, Queer Love anthology.

Outside of work you might bump into her at a garden center, charity shop, yoga studio, lifting heavy weights, or (most likely) supping/eating some sort of delicious drink/meal.