Prince Andrew’s weird flight tracker obsession isn’t the only royal hobby: How William was a keen surfer and Philip was king of the BBQ

The Royal Family enjoy doing a range of activities and hobbies in their spare time. 

Prince Harry is a keen skier, Princes Anne enjoys boating while Prince Philip was partial to a BBQ.

The Prince of Wales even used to enjoy tearing through the streets of London on his motorbike.

And, as the Mail’s Richard Kay revealed last week, secluded Prince Andrew has taken up a new venture: tracking planes. 

The Duke of York, who served as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands War, is said to project a live flight tracker onto a large screen at Royal Lodge, his palatial home in Windsor. 

Read on below to find out more about the royals’ favourite hobbies. 

Prince Andrew, who was once a helicopter pilot in the Royal Navy, has a new hobby – tracking planes

The Duke of York is said to project a live flight tracker onto a large screen at Royal Lodge, his palatial home in Windsor (file photo) 

Prince William

During his time at the University of St Andrews, Prince William learned how to surf.

He spent many happy days wearing a wet suit and taking to the sea with his friends.   

William also had a passion for speed. He passed his full motorbike test in 2002, when he was 19.  

Prince William learnt to surf while at St Andrews in Scotland. The prince is pictured catching a wave in October 2004

Prince William carrying a surfboard with his friends along the shore in Scotland in 2004

The bikes he has owned include a £15,000 Ducati 1198s, which has a top speed of 180mph. 

In 2006, it was reported that the then 23-year-old prince was required to have minders with him when hitting the road on his 1100cc Honda Super Blackbird. 

The now King sent one of his own senior bodyguards, Ian McRae, to shadow his son.

For William, the ability to remain anonymous under a dark helmet and full leather body suit while out and about was reportedly one of the things that attracted him to the hobby. 

Prince William, who was once dubbed the ‘Prince of Wheels’, riding his Ducati motorbike after playing a polo match in 2009

Harry hits the slopes 

Prince Harry joined William on rides and passed his test when he was around 23.

The pair completed a 1,000 mile motorbike trek for charity across the South African wilderness – Enduro Africa – in 2008, riding Honda CRF 230s.

Harry also enjoys skiing, a hobby that was nurtured by both his parents with trips to places including Austria and Switzerland when he was young.

He spent Valentines Day this year with his wife, Meghan Markle, on the slopes at a picturesque ski resort in Whistler, Canada.

They went with a film crew to highlight next year’s Invictus Games, as it will be the first time the event will involve winter sports.

Harry even tried his hand at sit-skiing.  

Prince Harry hitting the slopes as aged around 13 years old as his father, now King Charles, watches on in 1998

The young prince jumps in the air while skiing in Klosters in January 1999

King of the BBQ  

The late Prince Philip became known for his legendary BBQs and enjoyed cooking for his family. 

Charles described how the late Duke ‘adored BBQ-ing’ in a video released by the BBC.

Prince William spoke highly of his grandfather’s grilling skills and said: ‘Every BBQ that I’ve ever been on, the Duke of Edinburgh has been there cooking. 

‘When we go on BBQs there’s no chef, there’s not anyone else.

‘He would be the first person to say when he started off he didn’t have a clue what he was doing but such as the way that he is, he tackles a new challenge and grapples it and learns as he does it and he’s mastered it.’

Prince Philip, known for his BBQs, enjoyed grilling food for his family. The Duke is pictured here with Princess Anne

The late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attending a BBQ in Canberra during the Royal Tour of Australia in April 1970

Princess Anne’s boating ventures… and love of lighthouses

The Princess Royal’s love for horse riding is well known, but another hobby she enjoys is sailing. 

She became a patron of Royal Lymington Yacht Club in 1979 and has participated in several boating events over the years.

In 1992, she sailed in the club’s annual regatta and has even reportedly kept her own yacht moored nearby.

A young Princess Anne stands on a boat while the Queen is nearby at Frogmore in Windsor in 1959

Princess Anne sailing on a boat in the Royal Lymington Yacht Club’s annual regatta in 1979

Anne is also very passionate about lighthouses. She is patron of the Northern Lighthouse Board and in 2015 wrote the foreword to a book dedicated to the structures.

She wrote of the ‘remoteness and exceptional natural beauty’ of the sites photographed by author Ian Cowe for his book Scottish and Manx Lighthouses.

Anne has visited several lighthouses around Scotland and the Isle of Man in her role as patron of the NLB.  

Anne is also very passionate about lighthouses. She is patron of the Northern Lighthouse Board and in 2015 wrote the foreword to a book dedicated to the structures. Above: The Princess Royal unveiling a plaque at the South Lighthouse on Fair Isle, 

Princess Anne arriving on Fair Isle to visit the island’s South Lighthouse

Queen of the court and piano keys

The Princess of Wales is a keen sportswoman and is particularly passionate about tennis. 

In September 2021, Kate impressed US Open champion Emma Raducanu at an official ‘homecoming’ organised by the Lawn Tennis Association, which the princess is a patron of. 

Kate played doubles with the tennis star and even earned a compliment from her. Raducanu said Kate’s forehand was ‘incredible’.

She eagerly swung her Babolat racket wearing a Poivre Blanc top and skirt, as well as trainers designed by Roger Federer.

The Princess of Wales has a range of sporting abilities, including tennis

Kate playing with US Open champion Emma Raducanu at an official ‘homecoming’ organised by the Lawn Tennis Association in September 2021

When she puts the racket down, the princess also enjoys playing the piano. 

Last year, Kate opened the final of Eurovision with a touching piano performance tribute to Ukraine.

She played alongside 2021 winners the Kalush Orchestra in a stunning opening sequence for the grand final.

The performance was shown to an estimated worldwide audience of 160 million. 

Kate also played the piano at the 2021 Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey.  

Last year, Kate opened the final of Eurovision with a touching piano performance tribute to Ukraine 

The Queen’s pigeons 

Queen Elizabeth II was for decades the patron of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association and also the National Flying Club.

She owned 200 of the birds herself and was also responsible for the 100-strong collection of budgerigars at Windsor. 

In having a passion for pigeons, the Queen was following in the footsteps of her father, King George VI, whose favourite bird, Royal blue, received the Dickin Medal for Gallantry in 1940.  

The Royal Family began taking part in pigeon racing in 1886, when Queen Victoria was given racing pigeons by Belgium’s King Leopold II. 

Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret sending a message by courier pigeon to Lady Baden Powell at Guide Headquarters, 1943

There was also an aviary in the grounds of Royal Lodge. 

A photograph taken in 1940 shows the young Princess Elizabeth in the enclosure with several birds as her sister Margaret looked on with their mother, Queen Elizabeth.

Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret also handled carrier pigeons when they served in the Girl Guides.

In 2015, the Queen sanctioned a £40,000 renovation of the royal loft at Sandringham. The new residence included top-of-the-range nesting boxes for her pigeons.