Glamping in Botswana [bot-SWAN-uh]. Chilling at a $12 million Bahamas villa. You won't
believe where Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, and other royals go on vacation!
It should hardly come as a surprise that the royal family has several
vacation homes across the U.K. Their most frequently visited holiday home is Balmoral,
a sprawling castle set in the stunning Highlands of Scotland.
Queen Elizabeth II [the second] visits the home every year at the end of the summer.
As her granddaughter, Princess Eugenie said in the documentary "The Queen At Ninety,"
"It's the most beautiful place on earth, I think. And I think granny
is the most happy there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands."
So, what's the appeal of Balmoral?
While most of us get away to seek out a more luxurious lifestyle, for the royal family,
it's the opposite. At Balmoral, the family can take a break from their duties and, quote,
"act as normal people," former royal photographer Lord Lichfield once said. Apparently,
they spend most of their time exploring the Highlands and even do their own dishes!
Balmoral isn't the only vacation home of Queen Elizabeth II — she
also once had a stunning residence in Malta. Villa Guardamangia was home to
the queen and her late husband, Prince Philip, from 1949 to 1951.
After moving back to the U.K., they continued to visit their home in Malta for many years.
The massive Baroque-style home had a lounge, dining room, living room,
six bedrooms, and three bathrooms. Outdoors were several picturesque courtyards and a staggering
9,680 feet of surrounding land. Even though the queen's visits to Malta grew few and far between
over the years, it still has a very special place in her heart. She said during a 2015 visit,
"Visiting Malta is very special for me. I remember happy days here
with Prince Philip when we were first married."
The home is now owned by the government of Malta
and recently underwent restoration before reopening to the public.
Kate and William actually first bonded over their love of skiing,
so it's no wonder they're often seen visiting the ski slopes on their winter holidays.
In 2016, Courcheval in the French Alps was the chosen spot for William and Kate's first
family vacation with their children. In 2017, a mini-scandal broke out when William was seen
on the slopes in the Alps again — this time without his family. But, in 2022,
the whole family, along with Kate's sister, Pippa Middleton, returned to the Alps.
It seems like the younger royals simply can't get enough of skiing in the Alps.
Mustique, a breathtaking island in the Caribbean, was one of the favorite spots
of Princess Margaret. You may remember her many trips to the island in "The Crown."
In more recent years, it's become a holiday spot for some of the younger royals, too,
such as Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Princess Diana.
Margaret famously visited Mustique in 1976 with Roddy Llewellyn [loo-WELL-in], with whom she was
having an affair. Images of the pair soaking up the sun on the luxurious Caribbean beaches
sent the tabloids into a frenzy. Because Margaret loved to visit Mustique, in 1971,
she had a gorgeous villa built, with five bedrooms, two pools, and a significant staff.
Today, you can rent the property starting at around $25,000 a week.
Mustique is also a favorite holiday spot for William and Kate
who visit the island roughly once a year.
Before they married, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle famously went on a romantic safari getaway
to Botswana in Africa. As Harry explained in their engagement interview with the BBC,
"I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana.
And we camped out with each other under the stars."
In another interview, Meghan explained that when she and Prince Harry camp in Botswana,
they like to just grab a backpack and pitch a tent.
But while the pair did go camping, it seems that the royal version of camping is a little
different. Most of their trip was reportedly spent at the Meno a Kweno safari camp,
where rooms cost almost $2,000 a night. Based on images of the safari camp,
Harry and Meghan lived in serious luxury during their stay.
In 2019, Meghan recreated their Botswana trip in their own backyard. As one source told People,
"It's a place that means so much to them — and to Harry in particular — so Meghan
wanted to bring that happy place to him on his day so she set up a tent,
got sleeping bags, cooked dinner, and recreated Botswana where they fell in love."
Sometimes, jetting off to Europe or Africa simply isn't practical for the royals.
For Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Isles of Scilly in Cornwall,
which is only a few hours from London, is a favorite vacation spot.
In 2021, William and Kate took their family there for the second year in a row. As it turns out,
William had visited as a child with his parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana,
and his brother, Prince Harry, in 1989. The family stayed on Tresco Island, owned by Charles,
in a four-bedroom stone cottage surrounded by beautiful beaches and cycling paths.
Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles, also have a holiday home
in Scilly. Dolphin House is a six-bedroom home in an old rectory also on Tresco Island
with picturesque blue and white decor and idyllic waterfront views. If you want to
live out all of your royal holiday dreams, you can rent the place for around $2,675 a week.
For Prince Charles, there is no better holiday spot than Greece.
He reportedly once said during a visit,
"My wife [Camilla] and I could not be more delighted to be back in Greece, which has
long held the most special place in my heart. After all, Greece is the land of my grandfather;
and of my father's birth, nearly [100] years ago, in the centenary year of Greek Independence."
The couple especially adores the small island of Corfu. With its copious natural life, beautiful
harbor, and incredible party scene, it's easy to see why this royal couple keeps coming back.
Back in 1990, Princess Diana famously visited Richard Branson's private island in the Caribbean,
Necker Island, with her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. Diana was apparently drawn to
the luxurious island because of its security — particularly to hide from the paparazzi.
Of course, the paparazzi did manage to snap a few shots of the princess and her sons on the beach.
And even though the island is incredibly exclusive, Diana seemed to have a pretty
normal beach experience with her kids — which must have been a welcome change.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana both visited Mallorca in Spain on several occasions.
The former couple first visited in 1986 after an invitation from King Juan Carlos I.
They stayed in a royal palace, spent time on the king's yacht,
took the kids to a waterpark, and spent plenty of time lounging on the beach. The couple returned
for three years in a row — 1987, 1988, and 1990 — and Diana returned without Charles in 1996.
Marivent Palace, where Charles and Diana stayed,
is open to the public if you want to see the luxury for yourself.
The palace, built in the Mediterranean style, is situated on a picturesque hill.
By the looks of things, Diana's final visit to Mallorca will even appear on "The Crown."
Elizabeth Debicki reportedly recreates Diana's trip, and fans will see the princess on a jet ski.
During the COVID-19 pandemic,
most of us had to put our vacation plans on hold — even those in the royal family!
"One learns when one has the benefit of experience that sometimes
time off is the most sensible course of action."
However, Prince William and Kate Middleton did manage to get away to one of their U.K. holiday
homes. The pair spent plenty of time in Anmer Hall in Norfolk, a stunning 10-bedroom estate,
which underwent a staggering $2.3 million in renovations prior to the royal family's COVID
getaway. William and his family love the peaceful environment that Norfolk offers,
and so they spend as much time there as they can.
In some of the couple's Zoom appearances from Anmer Hall, it's possible to get a sense of
the sprawling property. By the looks of things, it features a substantial study
with floor-to-ceiling bookcases, an ample green dining room adorned with antiques,
a large conservatory, and expansive private fields outdoors. It's easy
to see why the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge can't get enough of this stunning property.
Beautiful Nevis Island in the Caribbean was reportedly one of
Princess Diana's favorite spots to visit. She visited the island with her two sons,
Prince William and Prince Harry, in the '90s.
The island has limited access by air, and can't be reached by cruise ship,
making it the perfect spot for a secluded escape.
The island features a stunning volcano,
Nevis Peak, and plenty of places to take scenic walks through the rainforest.
During her visit, Diana stayed at the Montpelier Plantation,
a luxurious, laid-back, beachfront hotel with plenty of bars, restaurants,
and activities. As Tim Hoffman, whose mother worked at the hotel, told The Telegraph,
"She used to play cricket on Pinneys beach with her boys. It was a last-minute arrangement and
she didn't hire out the hotel exclusively for herself. [...] But the restaurant
was closed to outside bookings so that no one else could walk in."
It seems the royals love a beachside vacation. On several occasions,
the royals have picked the Bahamas as their getaway destination. In 2022,
as part of a royal tour, Prince William and Kate Middleton stayed at a super luxurious resort in
Atlantis called The Cove which features huge suites which overlook two beaches.
Casuarina Beach is another luxury getaway home in the Bahamas where
many royal family members, including Prince Charles, Princess Diana, William, and Kate,
have stayed over the years. The five-bedroom, 11-bathroom villa has 180 feet of sandy beach,
a pool, a large terrace, and a gorgeous modern interior. Apparently, the home is worth around
$12.5 million. No wonder so many royals keep coming back to this luxurious Bahamas getaway!