The date is April 1683. The Rye House Plot, an attempt to assassinate Charles, has been foiled, causing a wave of support for the King. A celebrity magazine goes to interview Charles.

This was the era of the coffee house where newspapers did have to have official licences. He was known as the Merry Monarch and for good reason! The Earl of Newcastle really did tell him not to take heed of too much book. The stories he gives of his time on the run are true. He really was 6ft 2 and tried to hide up a tree, hence the Royal Oak pub and why his birthday was Royal Oak Day. He really did like clocks. CLOCKS! And had two bedrooms. Well, probably more than that.

The portable bed is real and the story about not being able to pack light to travel to Tunbridge Wells.  He did delay his time in Kent before getting to London for his coronation. Statutes passed in the interim period were indeed destroyed without royal approval. He did have morris dancers at his coronation. Charisma is a word that originates from this time. Probably no co-incidence.

It is due to his wife Catherine that we became known for our English habit of drinking tea. We all drank beer or ale before that. It's true that he liked long legs. His mistresses were known as the Windsor Beauties and his nickname was Old Rowley after a horse that was particularly well endowed. Ahem.

His face was put onto a lot of merchandise and he didn't have patience for portrait paintings. He also didn't think he looked that good looking.  The Royal Barber mentioned was real and really did use egg white. He did start the trend for wigs and loved tennis and pell mell (which is indeed where we get the name Pall Mall from). He did have a spaniel named after him. He loved the theatre and insisted women play the female parts in plays. Good for him.

He really did raise concerns about the Great Fire which is what happened. The damage mentioned was true. Christopher Wren really did complain of having to spend time on 'rubbish' building plans rather than science and medicine. Honestly you can't help some people in their careers, can you?

If you want to find out more about Charles, check out the sources and places below:

A Gambling Man: Charles II and the Restoration - Jenny Uglow

Penguin Monarchs Series: Charles II - Clare Jackson

King Charles II - Lady Antonia Fraser

Mistresses: Sex and Scandal at the Court of Charles II - Linda Porter

To Catch a King: Charles II's Great Escape - Charles Spencer

Restoration: Charles II and his Kingdoms - Tim Harris