He is a self-confident fellow, although his sense of humour protects him from arrogance.

ECONOMIST: Don��t be vague

Constantine, who will be a guest at the royal wedding, described William as "straightforward, honest, hardworking and never losing his sense of humour".

BBC: Prince Charles becomes longest-serving heir apparent

His sense of humour is undiminished, however...

BBC: Prince performs first UK festival at Hop Farm

Philip showed that despite his recent health problems he had lost none of his blunt sense of humour when he joked with a disabled man about his mode of transport.

BBC: Diamond Jubilee: Queen visits three London boroughs

The name seemed to suit his engaging personality, his love of life and his rough sense of humour.

ECONOMIST: Freddy Heineken

We all mourn his death and will miss his gentle yet keen sense of humour.

BBC: Lt Douglas "Dougie" Dalzell

Like his pupil Feynman, he had a fine sense of humour.

ECONOMIST: Hans Bethe, nuclear physicist, died on March 6th, aged 98

Polls conducted by his team of researchers suggest that, despite suspicions to the contrary, many different cultures do share a common sense of humour.

ECONOMIST: Finland leads the world in weird sports and pranks