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 Photograph: 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 Photograph: Museum of British Surfing The Museum of British Surfing, in Braunton, north Devon, which opens on Good Friday. Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian Photograph: Jim Wileman/Guardian A duck template on the base of a Chapter Surfboard. Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian Photograph: Jim Wileman/Guardian In 1919 an undertaker from Perranporth started marketing coffin lids as surfboards. They seemed quite popular. © Museum of British Surfing Photograph: Museum of British Surfing Peter Robinson, pictured at the museum in Braunton, north Devon. Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian Photograph: Jim Wileman/Guardian Ted Deerhurst's lightning bolt surfboard from 1978. Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian Photograph: Jim Wileman/Guardian A Circle One surfboard from 1972. Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian Photograph: Jim Wileman/Guardian An old skateboard deck sits next to a board. Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian Photograph: Jim Wileman/Guardian Wooden belly boards, a popular pastime in surfing's early days. Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian Photograph: Jim Wileman/Guardian A Tiki surfboard from 1980. Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian Photograph: Jim Wileman/Guardian Fibreglass boards on display at the museum in Braunton, north Devon. Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian Photograph: Jim Wileman/Guardian Surfboards on display at The Museum of British Surfing, in Braunton, north Devon. Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian Photograph: Jim Wileman/Guardian Boards and a British Surfer magazine cover on canvas from 1969. Photograph: Jim Wileman for the Guardian Photograph: Jim Wileman/Guardian