Duchess Catherine + Prince William: This is their secret paradise

Duchess Catherine + Prince William
Your secret paradise

It’s one of the best kept secrets. When, but above all where, Prince William and Duchess Catherine, both 40, are vacationing with their children, the palace is silent about this so that the young family can spend the most beautiful weeks of the year undisturbed. And so only a select few know the magical place the Cambridges headed to recently, when William took Catherine, George, 9, Charlotte, 7, and Louis, 4, and Cocker Orla to the helipad next to Kensington Palace rushes.

Duchess Catherine and Prince William: They found their paradise on the island of Tresco

In the wind of the rotors, Catherine holds on to her sun hat while Orla scurries around the legs of the tour group. Everyone is looking forward to the paradise that awaits them: Tresco – a Caribbean-looking island just over an hour and a half by helicopter from London. A real place of longing in the life of Prince William. But more on that later.

On the mini island, which is almost three square kilometers smaller than the English Garden in Munich, he can shed his royal self – and is happy that the 180 residents simply address him as “William” or “Will”. What is particularly practical: Tresco Island belongs to Prince Charles, 73. As in the past, the Cambridges also live in Dolphin House. The villa offers six bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large terrace – and a lot of peace and quiet. As GALA learns from a palace source, Catherine often cooks here herself because she loves to cook.

Being together as a family is a real luxury for them

What only a few know: William surprised Catherine with a visit to the island a few months before their wedding in 2011, the insider tells GALA. Catherine has been a Tresco fan ever since. Everyone likes it so much on the island that they have also spent their holidays here for the past two years.

While many people yearn for exciting experiences on holiday, the Cambridges want exactly the opposite: steady, peaceful hours spent biking, sailing and swimming (in the not-very-warm sea) on the car-free island. And what the three animal-loving children particularly like: watching birds. Hobby gardener Catherine is also happy about the flowers on Tresco. Unfortunately, the plant offshoots they brought with them did not thrive on their Anmer Hall country estate. The warm Gulf Stream that gives Tresco the Caribbean flair is missing there.

For William, the island represents important memories

William has loved the island since he first arrived here when he was just under seven. At that time, his world still seemed fine: brother Harry was his closest ally, and his parents Charles and Diana got along reasonably well. It’s no coincidence that William enjoys cycling so much today – it was one of the few pastimes that the extremely different characters Charles and Diana could agree on.

After the holiday, the family has to move

Back in London, the Cambridges are now making the big move to Windsor. An employee of a local construction company tells GALA that the renovation of their new home, Adelaide Cottage, is progressing well. “Although a lot has to be done. Nothing has been renewed for a long time,” says our insider. Everything should be ready at the beginning of September, just in time for George and Charlotte to start school. The siblings will attend Lambrook School, around 15 minutes’ drive away, which is a school for both boys and girls – which is not always the case in upper-class English schools. It is said that Charlotte is looking forward to the new phase of life. George less, he leaves behind many school friends in London.

There is also something nice waiting for him in Windsor. Like his great-grandmother, the Queen: The 96-year-old is happy that the heir to the throne and his siblings will bring life to their afternoon tea time in the future. A good chat topic for the four: holidays on Tresco. The Queen has also been there many times. Secretly, of course.

Gala