7 of the royals’ most bank-breaking holidays

Ah, young love! While in the early days of their domestic bliss, before royal engagements became the business of the day, the pair made the most of some impressive family connections.

Kate’s uncle Gary Goldsmith is the proud owner of a £6.5 million villa in Ibiza and invited the couple to stay in 2006. Complete with a jacuzzi, tennis court and a yacht nearby, the lovebirds soaked up some Ibizan sun and, reportedly, had William manning the DJ decks. 

Caribbean cruising is the much-imagined holiday of dreams for many of us, but for the royals it’s a frequented patch of paradise. The private island of Mustique is located in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, complete with sandy beaches and amazing villas.

With a going rate of around £33,000 a week, it’s no surprise the glamorous island was a favourite of the late Queen and her husband who visited the island three times. Princess Margaret even had a house on the island and in 1976 the island was host to the photos that exposed her affair with Roddy Llewellyn.

Not many holiday locations can count Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, King Charles, John F. Kennedy and wife Jacqueline on their guest books but the Half Moon Resort in Jamaica is one such place.

With an 18-hole golf course, equestrian centre and endless beaches, it’s no wonder Prince Harry decided to stay at the villa in 2012 as part of his visit to Jamaica marking the late Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The world of billionaires and royals often overlap and in 2015, Princess Beatrice proved she had some friends in high places when she was spotted on ex-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s £1 billion superyacht. 

She and her then-boyfriend Dave Clark were reportedly taken to another yacht to join Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King and Disney CEO Bob Iger.

It’s not all about royal couples enjoying a romantic retreat away from prying eyes. Andrew, Sarah and daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were regular visitors to Swiss ski resort Verbier.

The family decided to put down roots with a multi-million pound chalet, which was sold in 2022. The holiday home held seven bedrooms, an indoor pool and sauna. If you fancy a taste of royal living, renting a similar chalet can cost up to £100,000 a week at peak season.

A direct flight is one of life’s many joys. If you’re a royal, you can even charter a long haul luxury flight and, presumably, pack an extra jumper or two. King Charles and Queen Camilla took a trip to Kenya in October 2023. 

The grand total for the trip came to £166,557, but that’s not the only time the couple have chartered a plane. Taking a three-day mini break in France via chartered flight came to a bill for £117,942. 

While a royal wedding is a show for the public, a royal honeymoon is surely the couple’s time to celebrate away from the cameras. In 2011, Prince William and his new wife headed to North Island in the Seychelles. 

The incredibly private resort has just 11 properties on offer and can be hired in its entirety to ensure no prying eyes. But not to fear, you won’t have to lift a finger when it comes to the boring jobs. The exclusive location has 10 staff members per villa and plenty of fine dining to get stuck into.