While visiting Northern Ireland last week, the Prince of Wales couldn’t help but hop back on a motorcycle—albeit a stationary one.
He appeared to ride the bike through the Arizona desert while testing the special effects in the Virtual Production Studio at Ulster University’s Belfast City Campus.
“Any excuse to get on a motorbike!” William said after being shown around the studio and taking over a big film camera before he took his turn.
If it could be removed from its gimbal, he added, “I feel like someone needs to take this for a real spin.“
William, a well-known petrolhead, said, “I love that exhaust” as he dismounted and went on to describe the set as “incredibly realistic“.
As his wife Catherine once acknowledged, the Prince’s love of motorbikes “filled her with horror” when he was younger.
When asked if William still rode a motorcycle during a 2015 trip to Dundee, Catherine responded, “He still does. Every time he goes out on it, I’m filled with horror. I’m afraid. I’m hoping to keep George off of it.”
However, William stated that he was no longer riding while on a trip to the Isle of Man in 2018 and added, “I’m a dad of three. I need to be more subdued. I miss the lengthy excursions; for me, riding a bike was always about hanging out with other people.”
The UK general election caused the postponement of the Prince of Wales’ anticipated May visit to Northern Ireland.
He began the day by visiting a project that helps keep young people who are leaving foster care from becoming homeless.
William was greeted at The Foyer, a Simon Community-run temporary housing and support program for young people facing homelessness.
The organization participates in the Northern Ireland component of the Homewards initiative, which aims to address homelessness.
William met with prominent professionals in the field to talk about some of the work being done in Northern Ireland to support young people leaving care, and he also spoke to young people about their experiences and the support they have received while at The Foyer.
Initiatives like the Simon Community’s Housing First For Youth service, which aims to prevent homelessness, offer stable housing, and provide community-based wraparound support to vulnerable young people leaving care, are among the projects that Homewards Northern Ireland is seeking to expand.
Additionally, Homewards will implement a housing project in Northern Ireland that supports youth transitioning out of the care system with funding from The Royal Foundation.
