The Sun newspaper hits 40

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A drug scandal in horse racing, a naked woman hanging out with the Rolling Stones and gossip about Prince Charles' love life dominated the first issue of British tabloid The Sun.

The Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid has reproduced 12 of the issue's 48 pages as part of a week-long series to celebrate its 40th birthday.

The first copy of The Sun, which could only be printed in black and white, burst onto newsstands on Monday, November 17, 1969.

Page one broke the news of drugs in racing as trainer Roy Pettitt claimed to have doped his horses to make them go faster.

Also making front-page news was a story saying the "mystery of Prince Charles and Lady Leonora Grosvenor" had deepened after the pair were "believed" to have attended a christening party in Northern Ireland.

Turning the page, Ulla Lindstrom, 19, can be seen smiling brightly in a plunging white pirate-style shirt tied loosely at the chest.

"She's just the sort of gorgeous blonde you hope will smile at you on a dull, back-to-work Monday morning," The Sun said of its first page three girl.

- AAP