Prince William made an unexpected appearance to cheer on Greg James during the BBC Radio 1 star’s brutal Comic Relief cycling challenge — and even climbed onto the tandem bike himself in a moment that left the DJ completely gobsmacked.

Greg is currently taking on the punishing “Longest Ride” for Red Nose Day, cycling 1,000km from Weymouth to Edinburgh over eight exhausting days to raise money for Comic Relief. On the fifth day of the mammoth journey, he got a royal boost when William turned up north of Doncaster and joined him for part of the route through the South Yorkshire countryside.

The Prince of Wales praised Greg for using the challenge to inspire others, telling him: “What you’ve done is set an example about helping out.”

He continued: “That’s the thing. It’s volunteering some of your time, putting yourself through a bit of pain at the same time, and supporting others. It’s something we do very well in this country, but we don’t really shout about it enough.”

William added: “This challenge helps everyone see that. And it’s an amazing team effort. Huge well done, Greg.”

The surprise visit came as Greg pushed beyond the halfway point of his epic journey and continued to power through the miles with a smile on his face. As he rolled out of Dinnington, fans lined the streets to cheer him on, waving posters and shouting messages of support as he passed.

At several points along the route, Greg stopped to high-five supporters, soaking up the encouragement as he kept pedalling towards Friday’s finish line in Edinburgh.

Adding even more star power to the challenge, Greg was also joined on the day’s leg by double Olympic gold medallist Geraint Thomas, with the pair riding together on the tandem as crowds gathered to send him on his way.

The scenes captured the emotional spirit behind the challenge, with children, families and supporters turning out in force to back Greg as he digs deep for Comic Relief. But it was Prince William’s surprise appearance — and his decision to jump on the bike — that turned an already emotional day into a truly unforgettable one.