King Charles III has been compelled to relinquish a cherished personal pastime, marking the end of a royal family tradition he has enjoyed for more than four decades.
A Beloved Hobby Comes to an End
During a visit to a factory in Middlesbrough earlier this year, the 77-year-old monarch confided to employees that he believed his "skiing days are behind me". This statement confirmed the conclusion of an activity he has loved since boyhood and which became a staple of winter holidays for the Firm.
The King's annual ski trips were first cancelled in 2023 due to the potential risk of injury ahead of his Coronation in May of that year. The following year, his cancer diagnosis, revealed in early February 2024, understandably prevented any activity-filled holidays, solidifying the end of an era.
A Royal Family Tradition
King Charles fostered a love for the alpine sport within his own family. During his marriage to Princess Diana, the couple frequently took Princes William and Harry on ski holidays, a tradition the brothers have since passed down to their own children.
When William and Harry were young, the family often vacationed in Klosters in the Swiss Alps, sometimes joined by their cousins, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice. A memorable trip in March 2005 became infamous when a live microphone picked up Charles criticising the BBC's then royal correspondent, Nicholas Witchell.
The family also ventured further afield, including to Whistler in Canada in 1998, a year after Diana's death. The late Princess previously favoured the Austrian resort of Lech for ski trips with her sons.
The Legacy Continues with the Next Generation
While the King has stepped back from the slopes, the skiing tradition remains vibrant with the younger royals. The Prince and Princess of Wales are known to be keen and competitive skiers who regularly take their three children—George, Charlotte, and Louis—on winter sports holidays.
In fact, it was on the slopes of Klosters in 2004 that William and Kate were first spotted together, hinting at their budding romance. They have returned to the resort numerous times since, often with members of the Middleton family.
Royal reporter Richard Palmer noted, "I’m sure William and Kate will be planning another winter ski break with the kids, because it’s something they love doing together." He added that the Wales children are likely becoming accomplished skiers thanks to their regular trips.
King Charles's decision, influenced by his age, role, and health, closes a significant chapter in his personal life, even as the snowy tradition he cherished continues to thrive with the next generation of the monarchy.
