The Princess of Wales is to join family at Balmoral for the annual summer break and we also take a look at all the other unknown holiday hotspots the royals love to visit
The royals have several favourite holiday destinations.
Usually warm and sunny (but not always), they range from remote castles to secluded island getaways.
Princess Kate is set to holiday with her family at Balmoral this month for their annual summer trip to Balmoral, The Mail on Sunday reported.
It was the favourite home of the late Queen Elizabeth and where she died in September 2022. She spent three months every summer at the Scottish castle.
The trip will be the furthest the Princess of Wales has travelled since her diagnosis earlier this year.
A firm favourite of the family, Kate and William have visited the 50,000 acre estate every summer since they married in 2011.
Princess Diana enjoyed St Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean, whilst Princess Margaret was a fan of the hideaway of Mustique, just over 300 miles away.
King Charles and Queen Camilla have been to the Isles of Scilly off the Cornish Coast more than once, and Prince William has taken his family there too after staying there as a child.
For Prince Harry, a place on the other side of the world holds a special place in his heart – Botswana.
One particular favourite of the Queen Mother’s was the Castle of Mey on the coast of northern Scotland – but her daughter Margaret was not a fan.
As for Queen Victoria, her favourite holiday spot was Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.
Read on below to find out more about each favourite royal holiday destination.
Princess Diana pictured in the sea during a holiday in Nevis in 1993
The Queen pictured with Prince Philip at her favourite summer holiday destination – Balmoral
The Queen Mother’s summer castles
The Queen Mother‘s ‘dear little castle by the sea’ – the Castle of Mey – was where she would spend three weeks every August.
Her beloved Scottish retreat near John O’Groats allowed her to escape the hustle and bustle of London. She once said of it: ‘One feels so beautifully far away.’
The Queen Other and was first introduced to the residence when it was known as Barrogill Castle in 1952, after her husband, King George VI passed away.
However, not everyone shared the Queen Mother’s love for the place.
The Queen Mother’s ‘dear little castle by the sea’ – the Castle of Mey – was where she would spend three weeks every August
Princess Margaret even went as far as telling her mother: ‘I can’t think why you have such a horrible place as the Castle of Mey.’
To which Her Majesty replied: ‘Well, darling you needn’t come again.’
Historic artillery fort Walmer Castle, in Deal, Kent, was another much-loved holiday destination of the Queen Mother.
She would make an annual trip to her three-bedroom Lord Warden’s apartment there.
Her Majesty acquired the residence when Queen Elizabeth appointed her to the office of Lord Warden in 1978 – a position she held until her death in 2002.
Her beloved Scottish retreat near John O’Groats allowed her to escape the hustle and bustle of London . She once said of it: ‘One feels so beautifully far away’
The Queen Mother at Walmer Castle,where she lived for a few days each year in a three-bedroom flat
Prince Harry and Botswana
Prince Harry previously spoke about how Botswana offered him a place to escape when he visited it for the first time after the death of his mother in 1997.
Since then, he has returned multiple times to complete humanitarian and conservation projects.
But he has been known to go to relax there too, as it is where he spent his third date with Meghan Markle.
Prince Harry pictured helping a schoolboy plant a tree at the Chobe National Park in Botswana, 2019
In an interview with the BBC after their engagement in November 2017, Harry recalled how he ‘convinced’ Meghan to fly out to Botswana to join him on a trip – while revealing they spent a romantic five days camping out under the stars.
‘It was I think about three, maybe four weeks [after their first date] that I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana,’ he said at the time.
‘And we, we camped out with each other under the stars… she came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic.’
Harry also chose it as the place to celebrate Meghan’s 36th birthday, as well as their first year of being together.
He previously went to the country with his former girlfriend, Chelsey Davy.
The inside of a similar tent to the one Meghan and Harry stayed in during a trip to Botswana
Queen Elizabeth’s beloved Balmoral (and Birkhall)
The 50,000 acre Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire was a firm favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth.
She would typically spend three months of the year in her Highland hideaway with her family and young children and continued this tradition later in life.
Other Royal Family members have enjoyed the Scottish residence – Charles and Diana even enjoyed part of their honeymoon there in 1981.
Queen Victoria and Albert purchased the estate in 1852 and it became Victoria’s ‘dear paradise in the Highlands’.
It is also the place where Queen Elizabeth spent her final days before she passed away in September 2022.
Like his father and late grandmother, Prince William is fond of the residence and has taken his own family to spend time there.
Queen Elizabeth in the grounds of Balmoral with Prince Philip, Charles and Anne in 1955
After Charles and Camilla got married in 2005, they enjoyed their honeymoon at Birkhall, the Queen Mother’s holiday home on the Balmoral estate.
Birkhall also hosted the honeymoons of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Kent and Princess Alexandra and Angus Ogilvy.
King Charles once described the property as a ‘unique haven of cosiness’.
It boasts tartan walls, carpets and big open fires – giving it the feel of a normal house rather than a royal residence.
Birkhall was used by the Queen Mother for half a century, after King George V lent it to her and her husband – the future George VI – when they were the Duke and Duchess of York.
The Queen Mother loved the home, she decorated it to her tastes and extensively developed the garden.
She only reluctantly swapped it for the grandeur of Balmoral Castle when her husband became King.
The late Queen’s beloved Balmoral castle, pictured in 2021
Queen Victoria pictured at Balmoral with her daughters Princess Alice and Princess Louise
After Charles and Camilla got married in 2005, they enjoyed their honeymoon at Birkhall, the Queen Mother’s holiday home on the Balmoral estate. Above: Charles and Camilla at Birkhall in 2020
It is no surprise that one source said Birkhall is ‘as close as it comes’ to being a marital home for Charles and Queen Camilla
Osborne House
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight, from Lady Isabella Blackford in October 1845.
The couple then rebuilt the property using London architect and builder Thomas Cubitt, whose company built the main facade of Buckingham Palace for the royal couple in 1847.
Osborne House became Victoria’s favourite royal residence and she enjoyed breaks there with her family.
Queen Victoria pictured with her family at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight
Victoria and Albert rebuilt Osborne House after buying it from Lady Isabella Blackford in October 1845
Her nine children, including future King Edward VII, learned to swim in the sea and collected shells from the shoreline.
In 1845, describing the estate, Victoria wrote: ‘We have quite a charming beach to ourselves. It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot.’
After Queen Victoria’s death, Edward VII gave Osborne to the nation in memory of his mother and it was used during the Second World War to train soldiers.
It is now open to the public and is maintained by English Heritage.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert pictured after their wedding ceremony at St James’s Palace in 1840
Mustique
The Caribbean island of Mustique became a favourite of Princess Margaret after it was bought by aristocrat Colin Tennant and his wife Anne, Baroness Glenconner.
Tennant even gifted the Princess a ten-acre plot as a wedding present.
It became the only place where she could ‘truly relax’ and get away from the pressures of the monarchy.
In 1977, Queen Elizabeth visited her sister when she was staying on the island.
Margaret’s ten-acre manor, hidden among trees, went up for rent in 2017 for £27,000 a week.
Prince William and Princess Kate have also spent time on the luxurious island. They reportedly celebrated George’s sixth birthday there, according to The Sun.
The couple have enjoyed other trips to the sandy shores, including in 2018 when Hello! magazine told how they went for the reopening of the legendary Basil’s Bar, which was also attended by Mick Jagger and his daughter Jade.
Princess Margaret and her sister, Queen Elizabeth, during a visit to Mustique in 1977
Princess Margaret pictured talking to a friend on the sandy shores of the luxurious island
Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly, dubbed the Cornish Caribbean thanks to their beautiful beaches, have also been a holiday destination for the royals.
The island of Tresco in particular is a firm royal favourite.
Prince William holidayed there with his parents Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and his brother, Prince Harry, in 1989.
William has since taken his own family to the stunning staycation spot. They stayed at Dolphin House, where he had stayed decades earlier with his parents.
Charles has been a regular visitor to the Scilly Isles. He and Camilla celebrated her 71st birthday on the islands of St Mary’s and St Martin’s in 2018.
Charles, Diana, Harry and William in Tresco during their holiday on the Scilly Isles in 1989
William has since taken his own family to the stunning staycation spot, staying at Dolphin House (pictured), where he had stayed decades earlier with his parents
Queen Camilla enjoying the sunshine in Bryher, Isles of Scilly in 2021
Corfu
The Greek island of Corfu is particularly special to the King, whose father, Prince Philip, was born on the island.
Charles once said: ‘Greece is in my blood and I have a long fascination for her ancient culture and history.’
Whenever Charles and Camilla visit the island, they are known to stay at the luxury Rothschild Villa in Kerasia.
Charles and Camilla pictured with Greek tycoon Theodore Angelopoulos and his wife Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki in Corfu in 2017
The house, Mon Repos, in Corfu where Prince Philip was born
Princess Eugenie’s solo summer holiday
Far away from a traditional castle, Princess Eugenie took what appeared to be a solo-trip to Kenya last year with her friends.
She visited the African country with German model and influencer, Caroline Daur and they travelled to Lamu, a small town on Lamu Island which has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2001.
While the Princess was pictured in a number of photographs lapping up the sunshine and enjoying the scenery, it appears her husband Jack and their two sons, August and Ernie did not join the group.
The mother-of-two looked in high spirits as she smiled for the photograph with her pals.
The island, located off the northern coast, is known for its snorkelling, scuba diving, coral reefs and beaches.
A photograph posted on social media showed Princess Eugenie on a boat in Kenya with a group of friends, enjoying a meal and wine on the open water
Barbuda
After Charles and Diana announced their separation in 1992, the princess took William and Harry on holiday to Barbuda in the Caribbean.
Diana was pictured in the sea in Barbuda while Harry and William jumped off a boat.
It soon became known as her favourite spot for a vacation and Diana’s love for the tiny isle was recognised when a beach was named a beach after her.
Nevis
Another Caribbean island that Diana holidayed on with her sons is Nevis – a small atoll known for its sandy shores.
She visited in 1993 with Prince William and Prince Harry and was pictured enjoying the beach and the sea.
Princess Diana enjoying the wave in the Caribbean island Nevis in 1993
The late Princess of Wales pictured at St Kitts Banana Bay, Nevis in 1993
Majorca
The sunny Spanish island was visited multiple times by Charles, Diana, William and Harry as a family.
They holidayed together there in 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1990 – while Diana also visited the island following her divorce.
Wearing a yellow jumpsuit, Diana can be seen putting all her attention to Princes William and Harry while on holiday in Palma, Majorca, in 1987
During the trip in 1990, the couple met King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia on their yacht.
Diana would often take an active approach on her holidays there -swimming and jet-skiing with William and Harry.
Charles on the other hand reportedly enjoyed painting watercolours.
