Inside Prince William and Kate Middleton’s surprising car history – including humble runarounds & high-powered motorbike

THE Prince and Princess of Wales are most often seen stepping out of a Royal Range Rover, but they actually have a history of driving stunning motors themselves.

Both of the couple hold driving licences and have been known to ride out in everything from luxury sedans to humble runarounds.

11

11

Thanks to Kate's upbringing, the Princess spent her formative years in much more humdrum cars than the Aston Martins and Bentleys associated with her new royal life.

And while Wills is clearly a "car person", his automotive interest began with the same humble beginnings as any other British millennial.

Ford Focus

Like millions of young people all over Britain, Prince William began his driving career in a Ford Focus. 

11

The young prince was snapped behind the wheel of a silver Mk1 following a driving lesson on the Highgrove Estate in 1999 after passing his test aged 17.

READ MORE MOTORS NEWS

ON THE ROAD

We built a DIY camper out of a Ford van in 3 weeks with a coffee bar & shower

PIT STOP

Drivers ‘going out of their way’ to stop at luxurious motorway service station

The model was extremely popular in the UK at this time and remains a mainstay first car even now.

So keen was the young prince to set out on the road that he took his theory test just a day after his birthday and passed his practical after just 20 lessons.

Volkswagen Golf Mk3

11

King Charles is thought to have given Prince William a VW Golf for his 17th birthday. 

Introduced in 1992, this generation of Golf was already out of production by the time Prince William reached driving age.

Most read in Motors

PLUG PULL

Huge car brand SCRAPS plug-in hybrid expansion despite rivals investing in tech

IN THE FAST LANE

Ferrari so rare only 17 in the WORLD exist to fetch mega price at auction

RULE BREAKERS

Our ‘cuckoo land’ council paid £3M to ban drivers from road - we’ll ignore it

MUST DRIVE 

Rare Mustang built to full FIA-spec with race-ready dashboard to sell for £90K

It’s a sensible first car but not a patch on the Aston Martin DB6 Queen Elizabeth II gave then-Prince Charles for his 21st. 

Volkswagen Golf Mk4

11

In an amazing twist of fate, the future couple owned almost the same car as teens.

Kate bought her 1.4-litre petrol Golf before going to university - many years before marrying Wills. 

It was Volkswagen's replacement for the Mk3, introduced in 1997, though the vehicle registered to "Miss Catherine Middleton" was a 51-plate.

Volkswagen stopped selling this car in the UK in 2003.

It remains a popular car with students and second-hand buyers on a budget. 

Land Rover Series III

11

Among other Land Rovers past and present, William and Kate have been photographed in a Series III.

It’s a charming relic from Britain’s automotive past, and is believed to have been previously owned by Prince Philip. 

The former Duke of Edinburgh was known for his love of Land Rovers, even designed his own specially modified Land Rover hearse ahead of his funeral.

Triumph Daytona 600 

11

In addition to cars, Prince William has expressed more than a passing interest in motorbikes.

The Triumph Daytona 600 is quite a serious sports bike, with a 15,000rpm red line and a top speed of over 150mph.

It’s one of the more performance-oriented machines owned by Wills, whose car history has otherwise been defined by staid practicality.

And since becoming a family man, Prince William has agreed to "tone down" his motorcycling hobby.  

Audi RS e-Tron GT

11

The couple showed up to the 2021 Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in London's Alexandra Palace in a new all-electric Audi. 

The zero-emission RS e-tron GT is one of the pricier EVs on the market, costing from £110,000. 

Audi A7

11

But the electric RS is not the couple's first Audi. In 2012, they were pictured getting into Prince William's then-new A7.

The A7 is not Audi's most exciting car, nor is it the most desirable.

But what it lacks in kerb appeal it makes up for in understated refinement.

People wouldn't look twice at this car on the road in London.

Land Rover Discovery

11

It would be hard for William and Kate to drive anything other than this upmarket off-roader.

It's an ultra-British SUV, famed for its go-anywhere capabilities and robust crash safety technology.

And with seven seats, it's big enough to carry the Waleses, as well as their three children and family dog.

Aston Martin DB6

11

Not strictly theirs, but perhaps the car they are most associated with, is Prince William's father's Aston Martin.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

BAKE OFF

Tesco to make huge change to in-store bakeries as it plans make 400 job cuts

BRANCHING OUT

The 19 bank branches closing in February including Belfast and Swindon

The vehicle, which was given to King Charles by his mother on his 21st birthday was lent to the pair for their wedding day in 2011.

It has been converted to run on waste products from agricultural processes from the British cheese and wine industries.