The most ultra-exclusive private island in the Caribbean has hosted countless celebrity holiday makers, but a visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge still makes headlines.
(Mustique Image Courtesy of VPI)
During a grey and damp UK winter, most people’s thoughts will inevitably turn to a sunny holiday in the tropics. For the Duchess of Cambridge and her family, the tropical island of choice is Mustique, a spectacular 1,400 acre private isle in the Grenadines, close to St. Vincent. Mustique has a long lineage of royal fans; it was made famous by Princess Margaret in the 1960’s, who built a beautiful holiday home there, and Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip have both visited several times. Famous homeowners on the island currently include Mick Jagger and fashion designer Donna Karan.
Kate, her parents, brother James and sister Pippa flew to the island via St. Lucia last Wednesday. According to the UK’s Daily Mail newspaper, the Duke of Cambridge joined the Middletons on Mustique after he completes his weekly duties as a Search and Rescue Pilot at RAF Valley on the island of Anglesey. The holiday will be a last relaxing week together for the royal couple before Prince William heads off to a rather less glamour set of islands: the Falklands, where he will be deployed on a six-week tour.
(Mustique Image Courtesy of VPI)
It has been revealed by People Magazine that the Duke, Duchess and her family will be staying at Aurora House on Mustique, a stunning villa with its own plunge pool and amazing Caribbean Sea views. Big enough to comfortably host the entire family, Aurora has 3 full bedroom suites, plus a separate 2 bedroom cottage for added privacy. And the luxurious compound doesn’t come cheap: weekly rental cost for Aurora House is estimated by ABC News at US $23,000 per week, but it is unknown what the royals actually paid. Aurora owner Mark Cecil, a hedge fund manager, is known to be a good friend of the family.
The security employed to keep the royal couple safe from prying eyes and illicit photography has also caused a furor among Mustique’s other elite guests, who have reported being quizzed by security guards and had their movements around the island restricted. The Daily Mail quoted one millionaire visitor as saying, “This isn’t exactly the way one expects to be treated when you pay very good money to visit the most exclusive island in the Caribbean.” Not all of the island’s other guests were complaining, however: the Mirror reports that “Well-wishers flocked to the island’s famous Basil’s Bar to congratulate her (Kate) on her recent marriage.”
Read more: Daily Mail
Visit the rental information for Mustique: Vladi Private Islands
