There might have been some disappointment among royal fans that Princess Kate and Prince William weren’t at the BAFTA awards this year. However, the royal couple had a good reason to this miss this glamorous event.
The Wales family is said to be taking some well-deserved downtime on a tropical island, along with their three children – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six – making the most of the kids’ half-term school break.
The royals are believed to have flown off to Mustique, a beautiful and luxurious Caribbean island with longstanding Royal ties. Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, is also said to have joined the family of five on their holiday, shortly after celebrating her milestone 70th birthday.
The family has previously visited this island paradise, including in 2019 when they marked Prince George’s sixth birthday on the stunning, privately owned island. Mustique offers a sanctuary for privacy, giving the future King and Queen a break from the constant public attention.
According to Hello magazine, the island enforces a “strict no-fly policy”, ensuring that all guests can truly escape from it all, with no intrusive eyes nearby as they enjoy the pristine white sandy beaches and breathtaking blue waters. .
In 2019, the couple reportedly stayed in a luxurious villa, which costs £27,000 for a week’s stay, and is owned by Andrew Dunn, a friend of William. The villa features an infinity pool, jacuzzi, and stunning views, reports the Mirror.
During their 2019 visit, the family was joined by Carole and Michael Middleton. The Royal connection to Mustique extends beyond William and Kate’s family holidays, as the late Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth’s sister, owned a villa on the small island, which is only three miles long.
She spent decades visiting the island, referring to it as “the only place I can relax”. Princess Margaret was given 10 acres of land to build her island home, Les Jolies Eaux, by Colin Tennant, who had owned the island since 1958 and was married to one of her close friends, Lady Anne Glenconner.
According to Town and Country, the Princess visited her “hedonistic idyll” twice a year, once in the Autumn, and once in Winter. A friend of the Princess reportedly said: “Margaret told me Les Jolies Eaux was the only property she had ever owned in her entire life. It was hers.
“She felt inordinate love and pride that this was not from the royal family, it was not her sister’s, it was not grace and favour. She loved the fact it was her own,” the magazine reports a friend of the Princess saying.
Her friend, Tatiana Copeland, explained that despite Princess Margaret enjoying an opportunity to let her down in private, royal protocol was still adhered to by those who encountered the late Queen’s sister on the island, with English guests making sure they even curtseyed to her on the beach whilst wearing their swimming costumes, and the proper titles and styles of address still being used.
In 1999, Margaret suffered a devastating accident whilst holidaying on Mustique, burning her feet very badly in a bath, which impacted her mobility until her death in 2002. The Mirror has approached Kensington Palace for comment.