Prince Charles finds the perfect solution as he blends rum on distillery visit

Prince Charles confessed chemistry was not his strongest subject at school as he created his own blend of rum at one of Australia's most famous distilleries.

Presented with three test tubes of alcohol at Bundaberg Distillery, and instructed to mix them together, the prince joked: "It's like chemistry."

And he confessed: "I was never any good at chemistry at school."

Earlier, the heir to the throne had been shown a range of the distillery's own blends - sniffing and swirling them like an expert.

Dressed in a stone-coloured suit and brown lace-up shoes, Charles looked relaxed as he asked the distillery's operations and brand manager Duncan Littler about the brewing process.

After a quick cup of tea, the prince then spent time chatting to distillery staff and people from several community projects - before thrilling the gathered crowds with an impromptu speech.

Stepping up to the podium in front of hundreds of well-wishers, he said: "After being here in 1994 and having tasted the rum then, it's taken me all those years to come back for another tot.

"I'm thrilled the distillery is still one to be producing some of the most famous of all rums around the world."

He also shared his sympathies over devastation from flooding and storms that have hit the area in recent years.

His appearance in Bundaberg - an area of Australia famed for its rum - came on the third day of his week-long tour around the country.

Later on Friday he will meet the family of wildlife expert Steve Irwin at the Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef to discuss the challenges facing the world's coral reefs.