Prince William has long been a fan of sports. Over the years, he has shown a predilection for numerous pursuits, in particular soccer, with him being a devoted Aston Villa supporter, the club based in Birmingham, England. One of his greatest passions is a more extreme sport: riding motorcycles. William has pursued this hobby since he was a teenager, with him going out on rides in disguise. Despite how seasoned he is on the bike, it's a practice that his wife Kate Middleton still finds horrifying.
© Getty ImagesWilliam Opens Up at Norfolk Blood Bikes
Earlier this week, during a visit to Norfolk Blood Bikes, William got a close look at the charity's fleet of motorcycles and support vehicles that are used to transport blood, plasma, breast milk, and other urgent medical supplies to hospitals across the region. The Prince and Princess of Wales privately funded a new Ford Kuga for the fleet, which was unveiled during the visit and named "Prince William."
Norfolk Blood Bikes is made up of over 100 volunteers who, in their spare time, make sure hospitals and air ambulances have the materials they need in order to save lives on a daily basis.
© Getty ImagesAt the event, William revealed that he still rides, while acknowledging the challenges that come with his position. "I love a bike," he said. "I do still ride now and again, quietly" he said with a nod. For clarification, he said: "Disguise."
William also took a moment to praise the volunteers of the organization and the key work they do within their local communities. "It's a crucial part of the community. Not a lot of people understand this community. You're all amazing."
Less Riding Since Becoming a Father
© Getty ImagesPrince William passed his motorcycle test in 2002, at the age of 19. Although his passion for bikes has been a lifelong pursuit, William has acknowledged that fatherhood has made him more cautious about getting on the road. Among his motorcycles, he has owned a Ducati 1198, a high-performance superbike that's capable of speeds of around 180 mph.
Riding is a passion he shares with his brother, Prince Harry. Together, the two completed a 1,000-mile charity ride across South Africa in 2008, raising funds for UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, and Sentebale. In 2015, during a visit to Dundee, Kate Middleton shared her feelings on the matter plainly: "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."
In recent years, William has embraced a less risky method of transportation to travel across Windsor grounds: an electric scooter.
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