Prince William and Kate Middleton's favourite holiday island you can visit for just £35
The Royal Family might enjoy lavish holidays but Prince William and Kate Middleton love one spot that's in the UK - and it's an island they own. When King Charles ascended to the throne, his heir Prince William inherited his old titles.
This came with a huge £1 billion property portfolio. Featured in the Duchy of Cornwall collection were the Isles of Scilly, located just 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall.
They boast 'outstandingly beautiful, uncrowded and unspoiled' scenery. About 200 islands - of which five are inhabited - and rocks have been part of the Duchy of Cornwall since its origins in the 14th century.
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The Duchy owns most of the freehold land and almost a third of the residential buildings. About 100,000 visitors jet off to the islands each summer season.
Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, have been known to take their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis there. In 2020, the family were spotted cycling around Tresco Island, The Sun reports.
A fellow holidaymaker said: "We hardly noticed at first as they seemed a normal family on holiday intent on keeping themselves to themselves. The place where they were staying was quite modest and certainly not hugely luxurious."
A source told Fabulous: "The Cambridges and royal protection officers took a flight by helicopter to Tresco. Boat taxis known as Specials were organised for low-key scenic boat trips for the family to be privately taken to some of the wilder islands for bird watching and seeing dolphins.
"This island is part private so a bit like their favourite holiday destination Mustique, but without the mosquitoes. It is easy for the security men and everyone knows who is coming in and out on the islands."
The family also returned to the idyllic island in 2021. In 2016, William and Kate were seen stopping at the Tresco Abbey Garden and boarding a boat to St Martins.
But they are not the first to take family trips there. Charles and Diana took William and Harry to the islands in 1989.
There are about 5,000 tourist beds available on the islands, making it an ideal getaway for royals or celebrities wanting a peaceful stay. St Mary’s is the largest island, with 1,600 residents.
There are a further 5,000 across the other four islands - Tresco, Bryher, St Martin and St Agnes. While the average temperature is just 11C, it is the warmest in the British Isles.
The islands have a mild climate all year round. Making a trip is easy too - you can hop on a boat or plane from Cornwall, with ferry tickets from £35 for a day return.
Boats run from Penzance to the Isles of Scilly six days a week in high season, once in the morning and once in the evening. The trip takes just under three hours.
You can board a Skybus place from Exeter or Newquay which takes between 30 minutes and 60 minutes if you want to fly by air or book a Penzance Helicopter. You can also go on hopper boats between the islands, which run most days during the peak summer season.
There are a number of B&Bs and camping sites to stay at, while the larger islands have hotels too.