Prince William has revealed he still keeps up his beloved motorbike hobby – but rides them “quietly” and “in disguise”.
The Prince of Wales, 43, admitted he “loves bikes” as he visited Norfolk Blood Bikes on Thursday, just a stone’s throw from his Anmer Hall retreat, which he shares with wife Kate.
However, the admission won’t be a popular one with the Princess of Wales, as she once admitted his love for the hobby “filled her with horror”.
During his visit, he viewed a 25-strong fleet of bikes and cars used to transport blood, plasma, breast milk and medical supplies, with William And Kate privately paying for a Ford Kuga to join them. The car, called “Prince William”, also joined a Ford Focus called “Queen Elizabeth II”.
Seeing the bikes lined up in their livery, William confessed, “I love bikes” and said: “I do still ride now and again, quietly”. Giving a knowing nod, he said: “Disguise”.
Speaking to bikers at Norwich University Hospital, he said: “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.”
Prince William’s love of motorbikes
The future King passed his motorcycle test in 2002, when he was 19. He’d passed his car driving test the day after his 17th birthday.
© Getty ImagesHe loved riding motorbikes in his younger years, but later said he’d “toned it down” after becoming a father to Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight.
He owned a number of his own vehicles, including Ducati 1198s, which have a top speed of 180mph.
The royal also shared his passion with his younger brother, Prince Harry, with the pair completing a 1,000-mile motorbike trek for charity across the South African wilderness in 2008.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesKate admitted 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.”
Change of transport
© Alamy Live News.More recently, William has chosen an e-scooter as his preferred mode of transportation, using it to travel around the grounds at Windsor Castle.
He even rode it while appearing in an episode of Eugene Levy’s Apple+ TV series The Reluctant Traveler last October, telling the actor: “It’s quite fun!”
However, William has been forced to follow a new ban on his scooter at the estate.
Strict park rules now state: “Aside from cyclists, the roads are reserved for residents and Estate workers. All other forms of motorised transport are not permitted within Windsor Great Park. Examples include: E-scooters, Hoverboards, One-wheels.”
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