King Charles is a very busy man, traveling the world in the name of duty and enthusiastically participating in all sorts of events during public appearances, so it is easy to forget that the monarch is soon to turn 80 years old and is no longer the young man he once was.
During a visit to Teesside last February, the King reminded the public that he was no longer as nimble as he once was, telling a Swiss man he met: "I think my skiing days are behind me.".
King Charles was an avid skier in his youth (Photo: Getty Images)
Once a keen skier who regularly hit the slopes with his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, it's a shame the King no longer feels comfortable in the mountains, and it's not the only hobby he has admitted to retiring from.
In October 2024, during a visit to the Australian National Botanic Gardens, a young royal fan asked King Charles about his favourite sport, to which the King replied: "I can't do much at the moment, too many injuries.".
Indeed, the king reportedly suffers from "persistent neck and back pain," according to Prince Harry, who wrote in Spare that his father's ailments are caused by "old polo injuries.".
Connected
-
5 Most Memorable Skiing Accidents Involving Royals: Sophie Wessex, Princess Diana and More.
-
Prince Charles returns to the ski resort where the tragedy occurred.
-
Sarah Ferguson and Sophie Wessex share a surprising passion for sport.
Despite the pain, Queen Camilla was quick to praise her cheerful husband in June 2020. Emma Barnett's program on BBC Radio 5, saying of the king: "He is probably the healthiest man of his age I know.".
«"He'll keep going and going and going. He's like a mountain goat, leaving everyone else miles behind.".
She went on to detail her husband's favourite country pastime, explaining: "Whether it's hedge-laying in the pouring rain, climbing like a mountain goat up the impossibly steep Highland hills, planting trees in the arboretum or pruning at Highgrove, this is where he finds true peace.".
King Charles loved to walk (WPA Pool, Getty)
It's hereditary.
Although he can no longer ski or play polo, the King still maintains an impressive health regimen. King Charles previously revealed that he "exercise[s] twice a day," doing "squats and pull-ups"—impressive!
The King appears to have passed on his polo skills to his youngest son, Prince Harry, who plays professionally in California, while Prince William remains a keen skier and usually hits the slopes during the Easter holidays with Princess Kate and their young family.
Queen Camilla, on the other hand, does not like skiing, and her son, Tom Parker Bowles, wrote in The Times "My mother hated skiing, so she'd send us up into the mountains with a guide while she sat and read a book. She'd come over on the ski lift for lunch.".
Harry and William inherited their father's love of skiing (Photo archive by Tim Graham via Get).
At least the Queen now has someone to dine with on the slopes now that her husband has hung up his ski poles.
Key Memories
For over 45 years, King Charles's main ski resort was the Swiss resort of Klosters. He was such a regular there that two chairlifts were eventually named in his honor.
In 1988, Charles was caught in an avalanche on a dangerous off-piste descent. Although he was unharmed, the accident killed his close friend, Major Hugh Lindsay. Despite this, Charles continued to visit the resort for several more decades.
The Prince and Princess of Wales with Prince George and Princess Charlotte during a ski trip (Getty Images)
Skiing also served as a source of inspiration for Charles. He often made a second trip alone in March to paint watercolor landscapes. Due to subzero temperatures, he was known to add vodka to his paints to keep them from freezing.
In the 1980s and 1990s, royal family ski trips became major media events, especially after Princess Diana joined them. Frustrated by the excessive media attention, Charles famously attempted to ski incognito during a 1980 trip, using a disguise consisting of a false nose, moustache, and glasses. This disguise failed to conceal his identity and ultimately attracted even more attention.