The Princess of Wales has long harboured a deep sense of dread over one of her husband's most thrilling pastimes, admitting it fills her with 'horror'. While both Prince William and Princess Catherine are known for their active, sporty lifestyles and competitive natures, one of the Prince's personal passions has consistently been a source of anxiety for his wife.
A Hobby That Sparks Royal Dread
That passion is riding motorbikes, a high-adrenaline activity the future King has enjoyed for years. The couple, who share three young children, have a well-documented list of shared interests, from polo and tennis to surfing and running, which they are passing on to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. However, William's love for motorcycles is the one hobby Catherine has struggled to accept, primarily due to the significant risks involved.
Kate first publicly voiced her intense worry back in 2015, when the couple were four years into their marriage. Their family was still very young, with George aged just two and Charlotte only a few months old. During a visit to Dundee, she did not hold back her feelings, stating: "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."
The Future King Tones It Down
Listening to his wife's valid concerns, Prince William made a conscious decision to scale back his motorcycle adventures for the sake of his family. Speaking at the Isle of Man TT races in 2018, the then-Duke of Cambridge acknowledged his changed priorities, saying: "I'm a dad of three. I have to tone it down. I miss big trips, for me biking was always about being with everybody else."
Despite this promise, William's enthusiasm occasionally got the better of him. Later in 2018, during a tour of Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley, he couldn't resist taking a new Triumph Tiger 1200 for a spin. Donning helmet and leathers, the 35-year-old prince enjoyed a brief ride, later remarking it was "very nice" but "not long enough".
A Lifelong Passion and Family Worries
William's connection to motorbikes runs deep; he reportedly obtained his motorcycle licence at the age of 19. One of his most notable adventures was a charitable 1,000-mile off-road trip across South Africa with his brother, Prince Harry. The expedition, undertaken when the siblings were much closer, raised an impressive £500,000 for charity.
Princess Kate is not the only senior royal to have expressed unease about William on two wheels. His father, King Charles III, has also shared similar safety fears. When his sons were younger, Charles reportedly said at a reception in St. James's Palace: "I always worry about them. It's about other cars not being able to see you. I'm always telling my sons that." This highlights a shared family concern that transcends generations, placing Catherine's 'horror' within a broader context of royal parental anxiety.
