Prince of waves: Devon's Museum of British Surfing unveils UK sport's royal roots - in pictures

His Royal Hawaiiness? King Edward VIII, then the Prince of Wales, rides a wave off Waikiki beach in Hawaii in 1920, in what is believed to be the earliest picture of a British surfer - royal or otherwise.
© Museum of British Surfing

The future King Edward VIII (standing) and his cousin Earl Mountbatton. They received board-riding lessons from legendary Hawaiian surfer and Olympic swimmer, Duke Kahanamoku, off Waikiki beach.
© Museum of British Surfing

The Museum of British Surfing, in Braunton, north Devon, which opens on Good Friday.
Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian

A duck template on the base of a Chapter Surfboard.
Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian

In 1919 an undertaker from Perranporth started marketing coffin lids as surfboards. They seemed quite popular.
© Museum of British Surfing

Peter Robinson, pictured at the museum in Braunton, north Devon.
Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian

Ted Deerhurst's lightning bolt surfboard from 1978.
Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian

A Circle One surfboard from 1972.
Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian

An old skateboard deck sits next to a board.
Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian

Wooden belly boards, a popular pastime in surfing's early days.
Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian

A Tiki surfboard from 1980.
Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian

Fibreglass boards on display at the museum in Braunton, north Devon.
Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian

Surfboards on display at The Museum of British Surfing, in Braunton, north Devon.
Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian

Boards and a British Surfer magazine cover on canvas from 1969.
Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian