Kate Middleton pregnant pictures: Mustique was supposed to be a sanctuary for the royal couple

Surrounded by calm, turquoise waters, soft white sands and towering palm trees the island of Mustique has been a getaway for the elite for more than five decades.

The private Caribbean island, advertised for "those who seek privacy and luxury" is part of St Vincent and the Grenadines in the West Indies and has been a haven for the rich and famous since Princess Margaret chose it as her sanctuary in the 1960s.

The remote paradise, which only has one small airport, should have been the perfect refuge for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after the early complications of their pregnancy.

But the couple face fresh anguish as new pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge holidaying have been published by Italian and Australian magazines.

Although the pictures were taken by fellow holidaymakers and not a concealed photographer, the publication of the photos have been deemed a breach of privacy by St James's Palace.

Mustique is owned by the Mustique Company, a group of shareholder home owners from 17 countries, which preserves and runs the island.

It has 100 private residences, 74 of which are available for rent, the 17-room Cotton House boutique hotel and a five-bedroom guesthouse, according to the Mustique island website.

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In the past it has catered for the likes of Mick Jagger, Bryan Adams, Tommy Hilfiger and the Queen.

A wildly beautiful island, with rocky headlands and nine white beaches, Mustique is surrounded by a marine conservation area, is awash with bird life and does not have a single traffic light or power line in sight.

The island is a 30-minute flight from St Lucia and 45-minutes from Barbados.

But despite its remote location, the island failed to provide the royal couple with the privacy they had sought.