THE DUKE and DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE A family staycation in the Isles of Scilly
AS SHE SOAKS UP THE SUN ON THE SCILLY ISLES WITH WILLIAM AND THEIR CHILDREN
With its crystal clear waters, perfect golden sand beaches, charming restaurants and warm climate, it is the perfect holiday destination. And the Isles of Scilly are also where, for the second year in a row, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children have chosen to spend their summer break – as hello! can reveal they headed to the islands, off the coast of Cornwall, for a relaxing family break during the school summer holidays.
The family of five spent a few days on the sparsely populated archipelago, which offers the perfect mix of natural beauty, total relaxation and privacy.
Coastal trails provide ideal cycling paths to keep lively youngsters – including Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, six, and three-year-old Prince Louis – active, and there are hidden coves where they can explore and build sand castles to their hearts’ content.
There are seafood restaurants in the most beautiful of settings, such as the Crab Shack at Hell Bay Hotel on Bryher, where a “monster” local crab costs £45.
hello! has learnt that during their break, Prince William and Kate, who celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in April, managed to enjoy a romantic night out, which would have
given them a welcome break from taking care of their energetic children. An onlooker said: “I saw William and Kate having a meal by themselves at a lovely restaurant that was on the beach. They didn’t have any of their children with them, so it looked like it was a romantic night out. They looked really happy and relaxed.”
FAMILY CONNECTION
The main Scilly islands are St Mary’s, St Martin’s, Bryher, St Agnes and Tresco, the last of which is privately run. All five islands are famous for clear blue waters, beautiful sandy beaches and easy access by boat.
It is thought the Cambridges arrived by either helicopter – which takes around 15 minutes – or small plane, which costs around £130 for an adult fare.
Jeff Reines, content editor of Cornwall Live, says the family couldn’t have picked a better place for their summer break.
“The Isles of Scilly are only 28 miles off the coast of Britain but they can feel like they are a world away,” he said. “It’s easy to see why any family – not least one that spends so much time in the public eye – would go there to try to get away from the rigours of daily life, because you feel like you are as far away as the Caribbean.
‘ I saw William and Kate having a meal by themselves at a restaurant on the beach.
They looked really happy and relaxed’
“They have their own subtropical climate and are unique in geography and appearance.
“It’s a close-knit community where the people are lovely and completely non-obtrusive, so it’s the one place you can imagine William, Kate and the children walking around where nobody would approach them, as they would appreciate that they were having their family time.”
It’s the second year in a row the royals have opted for the destination for their holiday, as last year they were spotted cycling around Tresco.
No doubt the break brought back many sentimental memories for Prince William, who enjoyed an idyllic holiday there as a child with his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and his brother Prince Harry in 1989.
No doubt the break brought back many sentimental memories for William, who
enjoyed an idyllic holiday there as a child
‘A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVENTURE’
Nick Bond is executive director of the Islands’ Partnership, the official destination management organisation for the Isles of Scilly ‘ The Isles of Scilly have an enduring, timeless appeal: the immense sense of community only a tiny archipelago of this size can create, coupled with the sense of freedom, the surrounding wilderness and sheer breadth of natural beauty at every turn. Scilly offers a real opportunity for adventure; the very nature of island-hopping invites exploration and means visitors can experience a different island every day. Visitors are sometimes surprised at just how different each island is – each of the five inhabited islands has its own character and heritage, shaped and established over the centuries – and surrounding them are the famous crystalclear waters and white sands, which entice around 100,000 visitors each year.
And he’s not the only royal who has frequently returned to the area; Prince Charles and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall stopped by only last month, during an official three- day visit to Devon and Cornwall. They travelled to St Mary’s and Bryher, where Camilla alluded to the popularity of the destination when she said: “I know it is difficult to find somewhere to stay. It’s very busy here. It will be very busy this summer.”
Tresco has a population of only around 180 and boasts private beaches and coves, as well as waterfront restaurants, sandy bays and the popular subtropical Tresco Abbey Garden – the perfect destination for a family looking to get away from it all.
The Isles of Scilly are part
‘ Tresco is a place where you can fifind little corners and
pathways to have
entirely to yourself’
of the Duchy of Cornwall but were leased in 1834 to Augustus Smith, who built Tresco Abbey and established the Abbey Garden and whose descendant, Robert Dorrien-Smith, still runs the Tresco Estate today with his wife Lucy.
Dolphin House on Tresco, which is one of the grandest properties on the island, is available to be booked by holidaymakers. The six-bedroom, two-bathroom property, situated at the top of a hill inside a large private walled garden, overlooks the sea and has room to accommodate ten people. Spectacular views of the Round Island Lighthouse can be seen from almost every room, while two of Tresco’s most popular restaurants – the New Inn pub and The Ruin – are within walking distance.
The weekly rate starts at £2,230 – but the house is booked out for the rest of 2021 and the whole of 2022.
“Tresco is a place where you can find little corners and walks and pathways to have entirely to yourself, where kids can run around and have a great time with their mum and dad,” Jeff continues. “There are also lots of hidden little beaches and coves you can have to yourself. You
can just picture Kate and Louis paddling in the shallows laughing like any other family would do and that is exactly what would draw someone like them to Tresco.”
The family’s choice of a UK holiday reflects the desires of many people up and down the country who have opted to take a staycation for their annual summer break. The family have previously been known to holiday in Mustique.
THE PERFECT GETAWAY
Stuart Reid, chief executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, which offers transport to the islands by air and sea, said: “The Isles of Scilly is such a magical place, it’s no surprise William and Kate have chosen to come back for another family holiday – as so many visitors do. You get all the joys of an island holiday without going abroad. With white sand beaches and clear blue seas, you could be forgiven for thinking you had flown long haul rather than just a 15-minute hop from Land’s End.
“For anyone seeking peace and privacy, it’s the perfect destination. And for a family holiday, there’s nowhere better. Scilly is safe and ideal for children of all ages. There’s so much to do, from watersports to beachcombing, wildlife spotting to cycling. Life here moves at a more natural pace and it really helps to recharge the batteries.
“We hope William and Kate made some more wonderful memories on Scilly and love the islands as much as we do.”
We hope they made some more wonderful memories on Scilly and love the islands as much as we do’