Prince William Relives a Hobby He Give up Years Ago Because it "Terrified" Princess Kate

“I’m a dad of three. I have to tone it down."

Prince William wearing a blue suit standing in front of a green screen with mountains
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Once upon a time, Prince William was enjoying life in his twenties out on the road with friends, but with the responsibility of becoming the Prince of Wales (and having three kids), life has changed just a bit. On Thursday, Nov. 14, however, the royal got a small taste of one of his old hobbies while visiting Ulster University's Belfast City campus in Northern Ireland.

The Prince of Wales hopped on a motorcycle as he enjoyed a virtual ride with green screen technology at the university and learned how the school is helping future creative leaders.

Per Hello!, the future King looked thrilled, exclaiming, "Any excuse to get on a motorbike!” He even asked if someone could remove it from its platform, adding, “I feel like someone needs to take this for a real spin."

The Prince of Wales seemed in a nostalgic mood for his riding days, per Hello!, claiming, “I love that exhaust” and deeming his experience “incredibly realistic.” Motorcycle riding, unfortunately, is a hobby that Princess Kate once said "terrified" her, and William later gave it up.

Prince William riding a motorcycle in a suit in front of a green screen with a desert road

Prince William took a virtual ride on a motorcycle in Belfast.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

“He’s still riding it,” the Princess of Wales said regarding her husband's bike habit in 2015, per People. “It always fills me with horror when he goes out on it. I’m terrified."

Princess Kate added that she hoped Prince George wouldn't pick up the hobby, sharing, "Hopefully I’m going to keep George off of it." Prince William's love of motorcycles also scared his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, with royal expert James Whitaker once stating (via the Express), "I think it frightens the life out of people at Buckingham Palace and almost certainly, The Queen too."

It seems like their concerns worked, because in 2018, Prince William said (via People) that he'd quit. “I’m a dad of three. I have to tone it down. I miss the big trips. For me, biking was always about being with everybody else," he said.

Prince William climbing on a motorcycle in front of a green screen with a road and mountain backdrop as lights shine on him and a TV

The prince checked out the university's virtual production studio.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Prince William climbing on a motorcycle in a suit with a desert road virtual background behind him

William paid tribute to his former motorcycle days.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

While visiting the university, he also encountered two students who were late for a lecture because of the security surrounding his visit. Fortunately, the women received a "royal pardon" when the Prince of Wales recorded a TikTok for their professor.

"Lesley, I'm very sorry we're late, but see we caught up, and they wouldn't believe you were here, so just say hi," he said with a smile as student Samantha Johnson and her friend watched on.

As for his motorcycle, maybe Princess Kate can issue him a royal pardon in that department.

Kristin Contino
Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.”