32 hobbies the royals can't get enough of - from tennis with the pros to family rivalry on the polo field

These are the 32 hobbies the royals can't get enough of - and we can see why...

32 hobbies the royals can't get enough of
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Among the hobbies the royals can't get enough of are universally loved activities that the rest of us also enjoy. However, this is a family who likewise relish spending their time away from official duties and engaging in some more unusual pursuits.

There's the late Queen Elizabeth's dedication to walking her beloved Corgi dogs,  Prince Harry's Transatlantic enthusiasm for polo and Kate Middleton's penchant for tennis. However, there is also much we don't know about their private interests - from King Charles' passion for keeping chickens to Prince Philip's love of painting and Kate Middleton's piano skills.

If what the royal family gets up to in their own time is a reflection of who they really are, then get to know them a little better in our round-up of the hobbies - spanning sports and the arts - that they can't get enough of when off-duty. You'll also find out which members are unlikely fans of motorbiking and barbecuing... 

32 hobbies the royals can't get enough of

Gardening

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales plants a tree (whilst his police protection officer holds his umbrella) during a visit to the Wiltshire village of Bromham on July 17, 2007 in Bromham, England

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It's perhaps unsurprising that King Charles, who has long championed environmental causes, is obsessed with gardening. The monarch has spent years cultivating the grounds of Highgrove House. An interesting fact about King Charles: he even once co-wrote a book on organic farming.


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Gilded Youth: An Intimate History of Growing Up in the Royal Family by Tom Quinn | £15.87 at Amazon

Exploring what it's like to grow up in the Royal Family, Tom Quinn brings together historical sources with testimonies from palace staff. There are tales of royal mischievousness, including surprising anecdotes about Queen Elizabeth and Prince William, and it's shocking, funny and insightful all at once.

Polo

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex take part in the King Power Royal Charity Polo Match for the Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Polo Trophy at Billingbear Polo Club on July 10, 2019 in Wokingham, England

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Several generations of the royals have got well-acquainted with the polo field. These include Prince William and Prince Harry who grew up playing the fast-paced equestrian sport and often competed against one another at charity events. The Duke of Sussex has even continued saddling up near his California home in Santa Barbara.

Skiing

Sarah, Duchess of York, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie, on a Skiing holiday in Verbier, Switzerland, on February 17, 1997, in Verbier, Switzerland

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The royal family loves hitting the slopes when they can - but the Yorks are perhaps the most dedicated of all. Prince Andrew's former wife Sarah Ferguson was frequently seen taking their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie skiing while they were children, and they previously owned a Swiss chalet.

Horse riding

Zara Tindall warms up on her horse 'Classicals Euro Star' before competing in the dressage phase of the 2023 Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park on August 4, 2023 in Stroud, England

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While the late Queen Elizabeth had a well-known passion for horses, her daughter Princess Anne and granddaughter Zara Tindall took it to a whole new level. Both competed in equestrian events at the Olympics, taking part in everything from dressage to show jumping.

Tennis

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997) opens the Women's International Tennis Association European Office at the Vanderbilt Racquet Club in London, 10th June 1988

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Princess Diana was a fan of tennis both on and off the court, attending Wimbledon to spectate and also once playing against champion Steffi Graff. Her son Prince William's wife Kate Middleton later became a regular in the Royal Box, formed a close friendship with player Roger Federer and is believed to have regular lessons at the Hurlingham Club in London.

Running

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Wiliam, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry take part in a race during a training day for the Heads Together team for the London Marathon at Olympic Park on February 5, 2017 in London, England

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The royals love running as a way to stay fit - although some are speedier than others, as the world saw when the Princess of Wales, Prince William and Prince Harry raced against one another at an engagement in 2017. Interestingly, Princess Beatrice remains the only member of the family to complete the London Marathon.

Piano

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives for the "Together at Christmas" community carol service at Westminster Abbey on December 08, 2021 in London, England

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The Princess of Wales gave royal fans quite the surprise when she showed off her impressive piano skills for the Together At Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey in 2021, having learned the musical instrument as a child. The late Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana are also believed to have enjoyed playing.

Acting

Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane in 2012

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The royals' best-known acting talent is Meghan Markle, who rose to fame on Netflix show Suits. However, others have also loved getting into character. A young Prince Edward initially embarked on a theatre career, while the late Queen Elizabeth reportedly relished getting in front of the camera alongside Daniel Craig's 007.

Rugby

Catherine, Princess of Wales (Patron of the Rugby Football Union) takes part in a game of walking touch rugby as she visits Maidenhead Rugby Club on June 7, 2023 in Maidenhead, England

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England's Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League make up two of the Princess of Wales' patronages. She has been seen having a go at the sport, and the Cambridge children have played at school. They could perhaps all get some tips from Zara Tindall's husband Mike, a former rugby union player who represented England and was part of the 2003 Word Cup-winning team.

Winter sports

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends the Invictus Games One Year To Go Event on February 15, 2024 in Whistler, Canada

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It's clear that the royal family can't get enough of being in the snow - but not just for the skiing. King Charles was seen taking his sons Prince William and Prince Harry sledding on holiday when they were younger, while the Duke of Sussex enthusiastically tried the 'skeleton' in Canada during an event to promote his Invictus Games in 2024.

Photography

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and photographer Jillian Edelstein join a photography workshop for Action for Children, run by the Royal Photographic Society at Warren Park on June 25, 2019 in Kingston, England

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The Princess of Wales is famously a fan of photography, having inherited the hobby from her late paternal grandfather Peter Middleton. Since then, she has got behind the camera to take official portraits of her children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - and produced the 2020 photography book Hold Still. There's seemingly no limit to Kate Middleton's hobbies and talents!

Football

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, celebrate the win in the UEFA EURO 2020 round of 16 football match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium in London on June 29, 2021

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Prince William is known to be a huge football fan, and is the president of England's Football Association. The Arsenal supporter has passed his passion for the game onto his eldest son Prince George, who is understood to play for a local team during school term time and was lucky enough to accompany his parents to one of England's Euro 2020 matches at Wembley Stadium.  

Sailing

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the helm competing on behalf of The Royal Foundation in the inaugural King’s Cup regatta hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on August 08, 2019 in Cowes, England

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Sailing is a pastime that runs in the royal family. But while some may have enjoyed travelling by sea on the Royal Yacht Britannia, other members have chosen to be more hands-on. Prince Philip eagerly took part in Cowes Week off the Isle of Wight from the 1950s, while the Princess of Wales got involved in a commonwealth boat race in 2022 and has reportedly been teaching her children the skills of a skipper.

Indoor games

Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret play a card game at the Royal Lodge, Windsor, 22nd June 1940

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Just like many families, the royals have a competitive streak when they all come together. Sarah Ferguson revealed, on her podcast, that 'board games, card games, Scrabble, jigsaws' were just some of the indoor activities her relatives got up to when hanging out. Particularly relatably, she added that the late Queen Elizabeth wasn't a fan of Monopoly because it often 'caused rows'.

Baking

Sophie, Countess of Wessex decorates biscuits, cup cakes and icing crowns as she visits Christopher's Children's Hospice to mark the 15th birthday of the charity Shooting Star Chase on February 9, 2016 in Guildford, England

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The royals have eagerly shown off their baking skills over the years. The Princess of Wales has been seen whizzing up cupcakes in her kitchen with the help of her three children, while Prince Edward's wife Sarah, Duchess of Cambridge got to work producing dozens of scones for a charitable cause during the pandemic. 

Reading

Queen Elizabeth II lunches with Prince Philip and their children Princess Anne and Prince Charles at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, circa 1969

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During the filming of the BBC's Royal Family documentary, released in 1969, Princess Anne could be seen with her head in a book - however she isn't the only one to love reading. Queen Camilla, who is patron of the Literacy Trust, has previously shared her favourite fiction, while the Princess of Wales was spotted picking up the classics at her local Waterstones on Kensington High Street. 

Spending time with their dogs

The Queen Mother, Smiling, With Her Daughter, Queen Elizabeth Ll, Outside Clarence House With Her Pet Corgi On Her 83rd Birthday

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When she wasn't out on official engagements, the late Queen Elizabeth was often spending quality time with her beloved Corgis. The monarch got her passion for the dog breed from her father King George VI and the Queen Mother. For periods in the 1980s, she was the proud owner of up to 13 of the adorable pooches at a time.

Golf

Prince Andrew Takes A Swing During His Visit To Wentworth Golf Club For A Charity Golf Match In Aid Of Children In Crisis

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The royal dedication to golf spans decades, with King George VI and the Queen Mother taking part in the sport during their 1923 honeymoon. However, its biggest fan in the family is Prince Andrew - who has been seen showing off his swing at courses from Scotland to Spain over the years.

Cooking

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall takes part in a cooking class with the "The Cooks" senior chefs as she attends an Active Elderly engagement at the Salvation Army Centre on November 22, 2019 in Christchurch, New Zealand

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While they may be lucky enough to have private palace chefs, the royals can still fend for themselves in the kitchen. Queen Camilla has previously revealed she likes to cook fish en papillote with butter and herbs, while Meghan Markle often shared recipes on her former lifestyle blog The Tig and helped produce a charity cookbook in aid of Grenfell. 

Hiking

Portrait of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (and future King Charles III) as he leans on a walking stick towards the end of a three-day trek in the foothills of the Himalayas, Nepal, December 11, 1980

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King Charles loves getting some rare peace and quiet during long walks in nature. He embarked on a three-day trek in the foothills of the Himalayas, Nepal in 1980, but in recent years has stuck to Balmoral Castle's 50,000-acre estate - where he surprised a group of shocked Scottish cyclists in 2023 by hiking completely solo.

Dancing

President of the National Osteoporosis Society Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Craig Revel Horwood dance the Cha-Cha-Cha during a visit to St Clement Danes School on October 20, 2009 in London, England

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Queen Camilla has previously declared herself the 'greatest fan' of Strictly Come Dancing, and showed off her ballroom skills with judge Craig Revel Horwood in 2009. Other light-footed royals on the dancefloor include Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana, who were famously partnered up with US President Gerald Ford and actor John Travolta respectively. In one of Princess Diana's most memorable moments, she paired up with the A-lister to dance at an event hosted by Ronald and Nancy Reagan at the White House in 1985.

Carriage riding

Prince Philip At The Royal Windsor Horse Show , Competing In The Carriage Driving Championships Which He Won

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In one of the royal family's more niche hobbies, Prince Philip spent hours ensconced in the competitive sport of carriage driving - as documented in Netflix's The Crown. He took up the activity in his 50s when a wrist injury forced him to give up playing polo, and his youngest granddaughter Lady Louise Windsor has since picked up the reins.

Horse racing

Princess Eugenie of York (L) , Queen Elizabeth II (C) and Princess Beatrice of York (R) attend Ladies Day of Royal Ascot 2017 at Ascot Racecourse on June 22, 2017 in Ascot, England

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Not a summer goes by without members of the family dressed up and in attendance at Royal Ascot, and the late Queen Elizabeth attended the prestigious horse racing event with various relatives right up until 2021. However, as well as spectating, the monarch also bred thoroughbred racehorses - a pursuit that has been passed down to King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Working out at the gym

Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt, leaves Chelsea Harbour Club, London in November, 1995

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There's nothing like heading to the gym for a good sweat session - something the royals know all too well. Princess Diana regularly headed to the Chelsea Harbour Gym Club in London, where her cool workout attire was famously captured on camera - and is now considered amongst her best fashion. What's more, in 2008, the late Queen privately built a fully equipped gym for family members and staff inside Buckingham Palace. 

Shooting

King George VI (1895 - 1952), then Duke of York attends a shooting party at Wilton, Salisbury, as the guest of Lord Pembroke

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In a hobby that is perhaps less relatable than some, the royals are big fans of shooting parties. During summers at Balmoral Castle, members will often take part in grouse-hunting expeditions. The Prince and Princess of Wales are believed to have introduced Prince George to the sport for the first time in 2018.

Painting

The Duke of EDINBURGH seen working at one of his lesser known hobbies, painting - during the shooting of a film on the royal family, on June 19, 1969

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While the royals may be used to sitting for portraits, Prince Philip enjoyed picking up the paintbrush himself. The late Duke of Edinburgh's best-known oil painting is 'The Queen at Breakfast' which he completed in 1965. He has passed the hobby down to King Charles, who himself favours watercolours.

Writing

The Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson makes an appearance at Toy's "R" Us in Times Square to sign copies of her new children's book "Little Red's Christmas Story" on November 23, 2004 in New York City

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The most enthusiastic writer in the royal family was long Sarah Ferguson, who penned a series of children's stories before Meghan Markle followed in her footsteps with The Bench in 2021. However, one of the best-selling books of all time was Prince Harry's autobiography Spare - packed full of bombshells and interesting facts about Prince Harry.

Motorbiking

Prince William arrives, riding his Triumph Daytona 600 motorbike, to play in the Burberry Cup polo match at Cirencester Park Polo Club on June 17, 2005 in Cirencester, England

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Few people know that Prince William is a dedicated motorbike enthusiast. The heir to the throne has owned a number of bikes since passing his test at the age of 19 and reportedly rode around London on the eve of his 2011 wedding. It's clear he likes travelling on two wheels, because he also enlists an electric scooter to get around the vast Windsor estate.

Barbecuing

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attend a barbeque in Canberra during the Royal Tour of Australia. April 1970

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According to the late Queen Elizabeth's former private chef, Prince Philip was the family's most enthusiastic fan of the barbecue. The Duke of Edinburgh would take charge of the grill at Balmoral Castle, cooking Aberdeenshire beef and salmon caught on the nearby River Dee.   

Ballet

Swan Lake English National Ballet, Princess Diana in 1997

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The elegant dance form is a passion shared by both of King Charles' wives. Princess Diana memorably performed ballet on stage at the Royal Opera House in 1985, and became a patron of English National Ballet. Meanwhile, Queen Camilla revealed in 2020 that she has become 'completely hooked' on it as a way to keep fit. 

Swimming

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (1930 - 2002), swimming while on holiday in Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, Italy, August 1987

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The royal family are keen fans of swimming - with many members practising their first strokes in the private pool beneath Buckingham Palace, including the Cambridge children. While Princess Margaret loved to take a dip as way to relax on holiday, several decades later the Princess of Wales engaged in cold water swimming for its health benefits.  

Raising chickens

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, holds a chicken alongside Sophie Schweinsfurth and Mathias Stinglwagner during a visit to the organic farm Herrmannsdorfer Landwerkstaetten on May 10, 2019 in Glonn near Munich, Germany

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Forget dogs and horses, for King Charles it's all about the chickens. The monarch keeps a small flock of chickens at Highgrove House, and is believed to frequently feed the hens and collect their eggs himself. It is a hobby that Prince Harry has taken with him to California, where he and Meghan Markle keep chickens in their Montecito home. 

Lauren Clark

Lauren is a freelance writer and editor with more than six years of digital and magazine experience. In addition to Womanandhome.com she has penned news and features for titles including Women's Health, The Telegraph, Stylist, Dazed, Grazia, The Sun's Fabulous, Yahoo Style UK and Get The Gloss. 

While Lauren specializes in covering wellness topics—ranging from nutrition and fitness, to health conditions and mental wellbeing—she has written across a diverse range of lifestyle topics, including beauty and travel. Career highlights so far include: luxury spa-hopping in Spain, interviewing Heidi Klum and joining an £18k-a-year London gym.