Junior Rasmussen
Prince William and Kate Middleton's honeymoon destination was kept a closely guarded secret, with the couple reportedly upset when photographs of them on a beach appeared in an Australian magazine. However, it was widely speculated that the couple jetted off to the Seychelles for their honeymoon, staying in a luxurious £9,000-a-night villa on the exclusive North Island.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Seychelles |
| Date | 2011 |
| Duration | Two weeks |
| Island | North Island |
| Villa | Villa 11 |
| Cost per night | €3,340 per person to €10,126 per villa |
| Activities | Scuba diving, snorkelling, sea kayaking, surfing, cycling, spa facilities |
| Food | Spice-infused curries |
| Privacy | Private jet, no media photographers |
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What You'll Learn
The couple's honeymoon was postponed for 10 days
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, postponed their honeymoon for 10 days after their wedding in 2011. The couple, who married at Westminster Abbey, spent their first weekend as newlyweds in the UK before William returned to work as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot in Anglesey, Wales.
The couple chose to keep the location of their honeymoon private, with St James's Palace stating that the "locations of both their private weekend before the Duke returns to work and their future honeymoon, which will be overseas, will not be disclosed in advance". However, it was widely speculated that the couple would be honeymooning in the Seychelles.
William and Kate's protection officers did reconnaissance on two destinations before they settled on the Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. The couple reportedly stayed on North Island, a private island with only 11 luxurious villas, offering the couple a complete escape from the outside world.
The couple's honeymoon broke with royal tradition, as many royal couples have chosen to honeymoon in the UK. For example, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh enjoyed a low-key break at Birkhall on the Balmoral estate after their wedding, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex did the same.
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They stayed at a £9,000-a-night resort
Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, jetted off to a £9,000-a-night resort in the Seychelles for their honeymoon. The couple, who married in 2011, postponed their honeymoon and spent their first weekend as newlyweds in the UK before travelling to the Seychelles.
The Seychelles is a cluster of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. The couple arrived by private jet and stayed on the ultra-exclusive North Island, one of only four privately-owned islands in the Seychelles. With just 11 luxurious villas, it was the perfect place for the royal couple to enjoy a complete escape from the outside world.
Villa 11, which has its own pool and direct beach access, was likely where William and Kate stayed. The villa normally costs from €3,340 per person per night with all meals, most drinks, and activities included. The most exclusive villa, designed especially for honeymooners, costs up to €10,126 (around £9,086) per night. This price includes access to a range of activities, such as scuba diving, snorkelling, sea kayaking, surfing, and cycling, as well as spa facilities and unspoiled white sandy beaches.
The couple reportedly chose this destination because it offered privacy and seclusion. Royal expert Omid Scobie explained the lengths the newlyweds went to ensure their trip remained private: "The honeymoon destination has changed a few times since they started planning... If a location leaks prior to travel, it compromises their safety on the trip, and they’ll be advised by their protection team to change plans." Despite their efforts, beach photographs of the couple on their honeymoon appeared in an Australian magazine, which reportedly upset the royal couple.
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$15 $15
The location was kept a secret from Kate until after the wedding
Prince William and Kate Middleton's honeymoon was kept a secret from the public, with royal expert Omid Scobie explaining that the newlyweds were going to great lengths to ensure their trip remained private. The location was even kept a secret from Kate, who had no idea where they were headed until after their wedding. The couple postponed their honeymoon for 10 days, spending their first weekend as newlyweds in the UK before William returned to work as a search and rescue pilot.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's honeymoon destination was eventually revealed to be the Seychelles, specifically the North Island, a private island with only 11 luxurious villas. The couple reportedly stayed in Villa 11, which has its own pool and direct beach access. The Seychelles is a cluster of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa, and the North Island is one of only four privately owned islands.
The choice of the Seychelles as their honeymoon destination broke with royal tradition, as many royal couples have chosen to honeymoon in the UK. William and Kate's protection officers did reconnaissance on two destinations before settling on the Seychelles, as it was important that the location remained a secret to ensure their safety.
The couple's honeymoon was a return trip of sorts, as they had previously holidayed on the island of Desroches in 2007. The Seychelles offered the newlyweds a complete escape from the outside world and the chance to relax and enjoy the unspoiled white sandy beaches, spa facilities, and various activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling, sea kayaking, surfing, and cycling.
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They arrived by private jet
The newly-minted Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in the Seychelles by private jet, ready to spend a two-week honeymoon in a luxurious private villa. The couple had postponed their honeymoon, spending the first weekend as newlyweds in the UK, with William returning to work as a search and rescue pilot.
The location of their honeymoon was kept a closely guarded secret, with William single-handedly planning the trip and keeping the details from Kate until after their wedding. However, it was widely speculated that the press knew the location of their trip, but respected the couple's request for privacy.
The Seychelles was certainly an exotic choice, breaking with royal tradition. The couple reportedly stayed on North Island, a private island with just 11 villas, offering the perfect escape from the outside world. The island has top-notch eco credentials, with the villas created out of recycled or existing materials.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge likely stayed in Villa 11, which has its own pool and direct beach access. The island offers a range of activities, including scuba diving, snorkelling, sea kayaking, surfing, and cycling. There is also a spa, and the chef cooks meals according to guests' individual tastes.
The couple may have chosen to simply relax and enjoy the unspoiled white sandy beaches, with twice as many staff on the island as guests, ensuring their every need was met.
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The location was leaked to the media
The location of the honeymoon was, indeed, leaked to the media. Prince William and Kate Middleton's honeymoon destination was leaked to the press before they jetted off to the Seychelles. The couple had gone to great lengths to keep their trip private, and the location had changed several times during the planning stages. Still, it was reported that many newspapers knew of the secret location.
Despite the majority of publications choosing to respect the royal couple's request for privacy, beach photographs of the couple in their swimwear appeared in the Australian magazine 'Woman's Day'. This leak reportedly upset the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who had wanted a complete escape from the outside world after their wedding, which was watched by an estimated 24 million viewers in the UK alone.
The couple stayed on the exclusive North Island, one of only four privately-owned islands out of the 115 islands that make up the Seychelles. With just 11 villas, the island offered the newlyweds a secluded and luxurious retreat. The cost of their villa has been estimated at £9,000 per night, with some sources suggesting it could be as high as £9,086.
The couple's protection officers carried out reconnaissance on two destinations before settling on the Seychelles. This was partly due to safety concerns, as leaking the location beforehand could have compromised their safety and led to a change of plans.
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Frequently asked questions
Will and Kate went to the Seychelles for their honeymoon. They stayed in a private villa on North Island, one of only four privately owned islands in the Seychelles.
Activities on offer include scuba diving, snorkelling, sea kayaking, surfing and cycling. There are also spa facilities, and pristine white sand beaches.
Prices at the resort start at £5,772 per night and increase to £9,086 for the most exclusive villa, likely where William and Kate stayed.
There were rumours that William and Kate would renew their vows and go on a second honeymoon in 2025, but it is unclear whether this happened.
