Royal | News - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
Prince William’s love of sport and adventure is well known, but one hobby the prince used to have terrified the Royal Family, especially his wife Princess Kate.
The future king, 42, was very into motorbikes when he was younger and even owned his own Ducati 1199, an Italian-manufactured sports bike with a top speed of 177mph.
As well as riding with friends, his passion was also used as a way for the prince to carry out his royal duties, with both William and his brother Prince Harry taking part in a motorcycle rally around South Africa in 2008 to raise money for charity.
Despite his love of bikes, the prince admitted in 2018 that it was something he very rarely did anymore for the sake of his children.
His decision to give up the frequent motorbike rides could also be a result of Princess Kate’s fears, as she once told a member of the public that she strongly dislikes her husband’s hobby.
During a visit to the Scottish city of Dundee back in 2015, Kate was asked whether William would still ride a motorbike from time to time.
She said: “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.”
Although William has had to “tone” down his hobby, which he said at the Isle of Mann TT races in 2018 was for the benefit of Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, this does not stop the future king having a strong interest in any motorbike he comes across.
Just this week in Belfast, the prince did not hesitate to sit on a stationary motorbike in a virtual production studio at Ulster University.
When he was first invited to have a turn on the bike, the prince could be heard saying: “Any excuse to get on a motorbike! I feel like someone needs to take this for a real spin.”
Royal fans were also quick to comment on photographs of the prince on the bike. One wrote on X: “Ahh love this picture!! He is so handsome.”
Another said: “Prince William always looks great on a bike.”