Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made history by becoming the first British royal to ride the famous Surf Ranch wave pool in Lemoore, California.
The younger son of King Charles III and the late Princess Diana, known for his involvement in a variety of modern pursuits, has added a unique chapter to the royal family’s surprisingly long history with surfing.
Guided by Ryman van Bastar, the resident surf coach at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, Harry successfully rode a right-hander wave, even managing to get a quick cover-up under the transparent blue barrel, a move that showcased his growing skill in the sport.
The fifth in line to the British throne, known to be a regular “footer” on the waves, made the challenging surf look effortless, reflecting his natural ability and growing comfort on the board.
While this might be the first time Prince Harry has surfed at the Surf Ranch, he is no stranger to the sport. In 2011, he organized a surfing session for his brother, Prince William, during his bachelor party in Devon, England, where they enjoyed bodyboarding. The following year, the then senior royal continued practicing surfing privately, away from the media’s gaze at Porthcawl beach in Cornwall.
In 2020, his wife, Meghan, gifted him surf lessons for his 36th birthday, and reports indicated that he thoroughly enjoyed them. The couple now resides in Montecito, Santa Barbara, just an hour away from Malibu’s renowned Surf Rider Beach, where they have been spotted enjoying biking and coastal life.
