Rare Photos of William in Speedos Reveal a Side of the Prince We’ve Never Seen Before

While the world is familiar with Prince William’s polished and diplomatic nature, throwback photos of his university days reveal a more playful, athletic side. As a dedicated water polo player, William was often spotted enthusiastically cheering on his teammates poolside before diving into the action himself. Resurfaced pictures of the same feature the young royal suiting up for his university team in a pair of black and grey Speedos—tightly fitted and worn much higher on his waist than usual.

Understandably, the throwbacks prompted a flurry of reactions online. On X (formerly Twitter), a royal watcher shared, "Our Prince William has always been athletic. Here he is, back in his water polo days. 👑🔥💙." In response, a fan joked, "Heard on the radio 📻 that Speedos are back! Up by 54% in the USA. I think we can all thank everyone who kept sharing this picture of Prince William." Chiming in, another penned, "I could still remember this one when it first came out!!! I immediately bought the magazine!! Hahaha! [And] I went back to learning how to swim."

Water polo is an intense sport that demands endurance, as players must constantly tread water without touching the pool's bottom. Never one to shy away from a challenge, young William made his debut on the water polo team of the Scottish national universities in a round-robin tournament against Wales and Ireland. As reported by People magazine, water polo coordinator Matt McGeehan revealed that William played with an aggressive approach, which is a positive indicator for any player.

In 2007, the Prince of Wales' passion for water sports was officially recognized when he was named the patron of the English Schools' Swimming Association. At the time, he said, "Having swum and played water polo throughout my days at school and university, I am well aware of the great benefits and pleasure that can be derived from them." As reported by Hello! magazine, he added, "As patron, I look forward to doing whatever I can to help children and young people in England become more physically active and healthy through fostering their enjoyment of swimming, diving and water polo."

Like many in his family, William was always great at swimming. He may have inherited the skill from his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who was also well known for her aquatic abilities. In her youth, she earned multiple lifesaving certificates and even a prestigious badge for mastering every stroke with both skill and elegance. Beyond the pool, the Prince of Wales has also dabbled in skiing and hockey, which goes to show his adventurous spirit and athletic versatility, as reported by Hello! magazine.