When the King could have died a prince: How Charles was fired at with a starting pistol by 23-year-old protester in Sydney 30 years ago today - but was dubbed 'His Royal Coolness' for the way he stayed calm as student was bundled to the ground

Had his would-be assassin had more malign intentions, King Charles might never have made it to the throne.

Thirty years ago today, the then Prince of Wales was shot at with a starting pistol by 23-year-old student David Kang.

It was a moment which left hearts in mouths all across the world, as many wondered what might have been.

Charles, who was in Sydney to mark Australia Day, remained remarkably calm as Kang, who is now a barrister, was bundled to the ground.

Looking only slightly perturbed as two shots were fired, the King was hailed as ‘His Royal Coolness’ as he dusted himself down and continued his speech at Sydney’s Tumbalong Park.

Had his would-be assassin had more malign intentions, King Charles might never have made it to the throne. Thirty years ago today, the then Prince of Wales was shot at with a starting pistol by 23-year-old student David Kang

Charles, who was making a speech in Sydney to mark Australia Day, remained remarkably calm as Kang, who is now a barrister, was bundled to the ground before being led away

Kang later said that he carried out the stunt to highlight the plight of Cambodian asylum seekers being held in detention camps in Australia.

He was arrested before being found guilty of threatening unlawful violence and sentenced to 500 hours of community service.

Footage of the incident showed Charles reacting to the shots before Kang – dressed in a white t-shirt and jeans – marauded onto the stage horrified school children and other attendees watched on.

The King’s bodyguard, Superintendent Colin Trimming, was seen shoulder charging his boss out of the way before rushing back to the stricken gunman to assess the threat.

He then returned to Charles to stand as a human shield in front of him. The then Metropolitan Police Commissioner hailed the bodyguard, saying: ‘I take comfort from the fact that he was the first person at the Prince’s side.’

Within minutes of the drama occurring, both Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana – who had by then been separated from her husband for more than year – were informed.

Charles had been about to present prizes to schoolchildren in front of a crowd of 20,000.

The moment David Kang is bundled to the ground after firing a starting pistol at the then Prince Charles

Kang later qualified as a barrister and had two children with his wife

Charles had been about to present prizes to schoolchildren in front of a crowd of 20,000

The Prince of Wales’ private secretary at the time, Commander Richard Aylard, witnessed the moment Kang launched his stunt.

He said: ‘I saw this character running very, very fast towards the stage at the speed of a 100m sprinter. I saw him fire.’

Afterwards, there was finger pointing over who was to blame for the security lapse.

However, it was claimed that the Palace had asked that no police be placed between Charles and the public.

Terry Griffiths, the police minister for New South Wales at the time, said: ‘No one can take pride that an incident has occurred, but the level of security was agreed by all the agencies involved. His Royal highness desired that level.’

Had Kang fired real bullets and killed Charles, Prince William – then aged just 11 – would have become the Queen’s heir.

Had the Queen not reigned for 70 years and instead died before Prince William’s 18th birthday, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, would have headed a regency until his nephew came of age.

In 2015, Kang’s mother revealed that her son, who she called a ‘good boy’, was married with two children and working as a barrister in Sydney.

Charles had been on a royal tour of Australia when he was targeted by David Kang. Above: During the visit

The Daily Mail’s coverage of the incident, which took place 30 years ago today

He had previously recounted his stunt, telling Sydney’s Sun Herald newspaper: ‘I slipped the starting pistol out and stood up.

‘I had to jump the picket fence. I heard a bang, then another bang … I’d shot the gun into the air.

‘I thought I’d dropped the gun before I hit the stage, but it was still in my hand. I didn’t trip on the stage, I deliberately fell, because I didn’t have any intention to hurt anyone.’

It was not the first time Charles was targeted by a protestor. In 2001, a schoolgirl slapped him around the face with a rose during his visit to Latvia.

Alina Lebedyver was charged with endangering the life of a foreign dignitary and faced up to 15 years in prison.

Charles made a plea for leniency and the charges were downgraded, eventually to the point where she was put under her mother’s supervision for a year.