The Prince of Wales has apparently changed his tune on cold water swimming, a hobby he once deemed 'crazy' when pursued by his wife, the Princess of Wales. In a recent engagement in North Wales, Prince William admitted he now partakes in the activity, echoing the enthusiasm previously expressed by Kate.
During a beach walk in Colwyn Bay on 25 November, William spoke with members of the Marine Conservation Society's Youth Ocean Network and the Colwyn Bay Blue Tits, a local cold water swimming group. He told swimmers Chrissy Bolton, Georgia Daniels and Midge Owen Smith that he loves the feeling after a cold dip, adding: 'I do a lot of yelling and screaming when I get in.'
This marks a shift from his stance in late 2023, when Kate revealed on The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast that William considered her 'crazy' for seeking out cold water in dark, rainy conditions. 'Personally, I love swimming. Cold swimming, the colder the better,' she said at the time.
Cold water swimming has surged in popularity, with nearly 7 million people in England now participating, according to Swimming.org. Research published in 2004 in the International Journal of Circumpolar Health found psychological benefits, including reduced tension, fatigue and negative moods, as well as relief from rheumatism, fibromyalgia and asthma.
