Prince William and Kate Middleton were seen enjoying their customary break with the rest of the royal family in Scotland, but the couple and their children also reportedly enjoyed a more glamorous vacation earlier this summer. It seems the Wales family spent some time in July aboard a luxury superyacht, sailing around the coast of Kefalonia, an island in Greece, on a trip that was shrouded in the utmost secrecy to ensure a tranquil (and deeply private) few days of rest and relaxation.
Kefalonia is often described as the “St Tropez of Greece” for the way it attracts the rich, famous, and aristocratic. With its clear blue waters, storied caves that are ready for exploration, and the glamorous port town of Fiskardo (ideal for shopping or a see-and-be-seen dinner), it’s no wonder that the beautiful Greek island has earned such a reputation. Just this summer, basketball star Michael Jordan and the Emirati royal family were seen sunning themselves by the Kefalonian coast aboard their respective yachts.
Assos or Asos village in Kefalonia island in Greece. Asos is a little fishing village, located on the west coast of the island with 100 inhabitants. It is built in a narrow peninsula between the hills. There is a 16th century Venetian castle over the village. During the summer the village is a tourist destination, a charming place for visitors as it has little beaches with shadow and crystal clear water, taverns, little churches and the hill castle with the amazing panoramic view. (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto/Getty Images
According to The Daily Mail, the Prince and Princess of Wales were also there and reportedly borrowed the Lady Beatrice for their trip, a 197-foot yacht owned by British financier and entrepreneur Peter Dubens. Decorated in lavish style (complete with faux Greek columns and a Renaissance-style fresco ceiling in the dining room), the vessel can accommodate 16 passengers and boasts a pool on its top deck. You know, in case you get tired of swimming in crystal clear oceans. Dubens, the founder of private equity firm Oakley Capital, has no known connection to William and Kate; however, his firm was brought in two years ago as an investor by Thomas’s Battersea, the school formerly attended by Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
It’s thought that the royal party—which reportedly included Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, as well as other relatives—flew into Kefalonia by private jet in July. It’s reported that just after 9 a.m. on the day that Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their family touched down, the yacht disappeared from marine tracking systems. This suggests that the yacht’s Automatic Identification System had been switched off, ensuring total privacy for those on board.
