At the age of 29 he embarked on an expedition to the South Pole that was unsupported -- a trek that required him to pull his own sleigh and that lacked medical support crews.

CNN: The polar explorer searching for green warriors

There were plenty of durable classics lying around -- like Kon-Tiki, the story of Thor Heyerdahls excursion across the Pacific on a raft, and The Worst Journey in the World, about Robert Falcon Scotts disastrous expedition to the South Pole.

FORBES: Voyage of discovery

Looking at ease, Prince William gazed adoringly at three-week-old Hugo Eric Scott as he spoke to his father, Sgt Paul 'Vic' Vicary, a serviceman who had taken part in an expedition to the South Pole.

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Rediscovered photographs of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's expedition to the South Pole have gone on public display for the first time.

BBC: Captain Scott Antarctic photos shown in Cambridge