Prince William Admits to a Hobby He Now Does 'Quietly'—And Kate Middleton is The Reason Why
While speaking about his passion, William stated he has 'toned it down' after becoming a father to his three children.
The Prince and Princess of Wales share a strong bond, yet occasionally they go through a lovers' tiff, which Prince William cheekily admitted today. During the unveiling of a new Ford Kuga, dubbed after him for the Norfolk Blood Bikes charity initiative, the future king got candid about his lifestyle and the one thing he had to hide from his wife. While examining a standing fleet of 25 bikes and cars used for emergency medical purposes, William couldn't help but talk about a passionate hobby he now pursues discreetly.
Reacting to the bikes lined up, William confessed, "I love bikes," and said, "I do still ride now and again, quietly." Giving a slightly sly nod, he added, "Disguise", HELLO! reported. The revelation itself sounds hilarious, since Kate Middleton no longer approves of his wild bike rides. Middleton had previously expressed her angst over William's hobby during a visit to Dundee in 2015: "He's still riding it. It always fills me with horror when he goes out on it. I'm terrified. Hopefully, I'm going to keep George off it," she stated, sounding like a typical wife and mother.
William passed his motorcycle test in 2002 at age 19, having already obtained his car driving license on his 17th birthday. Although he enjoyed riding motorbikes in his youth, he stated he has "toned it down" after becoming a father to his three children. He owned several vehicles, including Ducati 1198s with a top speed of 180mph, and shared his passion for motorbikes with his brother, Prince Harry, as they undertook a 1,000-mile charity trek across South Africa in 2008.
William had just begun to use an e-scooter for transportation at Windsor Castle. However, a new rule forbids e-scooters and other motorized vehicles from entering Windsor Great Park, leaving the roads open only to bicycles, residents, and estate workers. Meanwhile, during today's visit, he lauded the efforts of the first responders, saying, "It’s a crucial part of the community, not many people understand the network." He added, "You guys provide such a crucial link to what goes on. You guys are amazing." In 2024, William embraced his adventurous side during a visit to Northern Ireland.
At Ulster University's Belfast City Campus, he engaged with a stationary motorcycle set against a desert road projection, revisiting an older hobby of motorcycle riding.“Any excuse to get on a motorbike!” William exclaimed like an excited teen, per HELLO! “I feel like someone needs to take this for a real spin,” he added, cheekily requesting if the tough machine could be removed from the stand. "I love that exhaust," he said before getting off the bike. He later described the virtual experience as "incredibly realistic."
