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Prince Charles dances with Saudi swords

Put a sword in his hand and even the buttoned-down Prince Charles reveals he’s a boy at heart.The sword-wielding future king of England, 65, donned ceremonial Saudi dress robes to join his royal counterparts at a cultural festival in Riyadh on Tuesday. Wearing a red-and-white checkered headdress and a full-length traditional gown, he participated in an all-male sword dance known as "Arda."The pr
TOPSHOTS

Britain's Prince Charles (C) wearing traditional Saudi uniform, dances with sword during the traditional Saudi dancing best known as 'Arda' ...
TOPSHOTS Britain's Prince Charles (C) wearing traditional Saudi uniform, dances with sword during the traditional Saudi dancing best known as 'Arda' performed during Janadriya culture festival at Der'iya in Riyadh, on February 18, 2014. Charles arrived in Saudi Arabia on a private visit. AFP PHOTO/POOL/FAYEZ NURELDINEFAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty ImagesFAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP - Getty Images
Britain's Prince Charles, wearing a traditional Saudi attire, attends the traditional Saudi dance, known as 'Arda', which was performed during Janadri...
Britain's Prince Charles, wearing traditional Saudi attire, attends the traditional Saudi dance, known as Arda, during Tuesday's Janadriya culture festival in Riyadh.POOL / Today

Put a sword in his hand and even the buttoned-down Prince Charles reveals he’s a boy at heart.

The sword-wielding future king of England, 65, donned ceremonial Saudi dress robes to join his royal counterparts at a cultural festival in Riyadh on Tuesday. Wearing a red-and-white checkered headdress and a full-length traditional gown, he participated in an all-male sword dance known as "Arda."

epa04086885 HRH The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles (C), wears a traditional Saudi uniform as he joins in a traditional Saudi sword dance, also known ...
Having a good time: The prince poses with his sword.FAYEZ NURELDINE/POOL / Today

The prince's visit to Saudi Arabia is part of a Middle East tour that will also include Qatar. The visit was hosted by Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, the former head of the Saudi intelligence service, who was named second deputy prime minister by King Abdullah last year.

Britain's Prince Charles arrives to participate in the traditional Saudi dancing best known as 'Arda' during the Janadriya culture festival at Der'iya...
Prince Charles, as he arrives to take part in Saudi dancing.FAYEZ NURELDINE / Today
Britain's Prince Charles (C), wearing a traditional Saudi costume, is surrounded by Saudi Emirs and security officers as he leaves a traditional Saudi...
Saudi Emirs and security officers surround the prince as he leaves the dance ceremony.POOL / Today
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Britain's Prince Charles (C) wearing traditional Saudi uniform, dances with sword during the traditional Saudi dancing best known as 'Arda' ...
All in good fun: The heir apparent to the British throne raises his sword.FAYEZ NURELDINE / Today

This was not the first time Prince Charles has been known to shake a leg or two on behalf of the British monarchy.

Last year he performed the Hokey Pokey while visiting a Sri Lanka classroom where he spontaneously joined students during a music lesson.

Prince Charles also has played up his dancing prowess in the past, boasting that his children inherited their sense of rhythm from him.

The life and times of Prince Charles

Slideshow  42 photos

The life and times of Prince Charles

Both scandal-torn and devoted to environmental matters, Prince Charles was born to be Great Britain's king. Take a look back at his life and career.