From the Seychelles to Malta and Cyprus, here’s how to honeymoon like the royals without the hefty price tag
LOTS of cash gets thrown on globetrotting by royal lovebirds, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are no exception.
They have cuddled in the Caribbean, Africa, Norway and France – and there is a honeymoon to come. But you can have your own romantic break at a royal destination without breaking the bank, as TRISHA HARBORD discovers.
The Seychelles - Wills & Kate
IT is tough to do the Seychelles on a low budget, but you can certainly do it more cheaply than Wills and Kate. The pair spent their honeymoon on pricey North Island in 2011, with villas costing around £5,000 a night.
But thanks to BA launching the only direct flights from London to the Seychelles, it is now more affordable for that special occasion. Seven-night packages with flights and a 3* hotel star from £950pp.
But for a taster of Wills and Kate luxury at slightly less eye-wateringly expensive prices, Six Senses Zil Pasyon offers similar private villa seclusion from £992 per night. The latest from the Six Senses brand, the resort’s 30 villas and 17 private residences are hidden among lush vegetation on Félicité Island, a 90-minute boat ride from capital Mahe.
GO: Seven nights’ B&B at the Six Senses Zil Pasyon is from £6409pp including direct BA flights from Heathrow. See .
Cyprus - Zara & Mikev
BY royal standards, Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall’s honeymoon in 2011 was pretty modest. They stayed in a suite at the 5H Columbia Beach Resort, on secluded Pissouri Bay in Cyprus. It is affordable for us commoners, and a good choice because, according to mythology, goddess of love Aphrodite was born here.
There’s a great choice of seafront restaurants, a pool and a spa.Chill out and be waited on like royalty or use some energy – activities include watersports and hiking. There are also beaches olive groves, vineyards and, for the ultimate romantic moment, watch the sunset at Petra tou Romiou which is better known as Aphrodite’s Rock.
GO: Seven nights’ half-board in an executive suite at the Columbia Beach Resort, with flights leaving Manchester on June 9, is from £1,589pp, saving £450. For details, see
London - Harry & Meghan
IT’S rumoured that Harry and Meghan will return to Africa for their honeymoon because they love being on safari, sleeping in a lodge and being surrounded by wildlife.Last summer, they stayed in a £650-a-night tented suite at a Botswana camp – where Harry had taken his first love Chelsy Davy ten years earlier – and watched animals including lions stroll by.
They could actually do that closer to home – on a sleepover at London Zoo which has hundreds of species. Share a romantic Gir Lion Lodge for two, hidden away in the Land of the Lions, and discover what it is like at the attraction when everyone else has gone home.You get to tour the zoo at sunset and dawn, feed the animals and eat a yummy two-course dinner yourself.There is a similar experience on offer at sister zoo, Whipsnade in Bedfordshire.
GO: One night’s B&B and dinner in a Gir Lion Lodge for two, including two days’ entry to the zoo, is from £378. See .
Isle of Wight - Victoria & Albert
ROYAL romances don’t come more passionate than that of Victoria and Albert – as seen in the hit ITV drama. And they spent their summers together at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, a palatial rural retreat with gardens rolling down to a private beach on the Solent.
Victoria once said “it was impossible to imagine a prettier spot” and thanks to it now being owned by English Heritage, we are allowed through its doors. You can even stay in one of the cottages in the grounds, with three nights costing from £400 – but you will need to book months ahead. Luckily, there are also lots of other places to stay.
GO: Osborne House entry £17.20, see . Stay at the 4* The Royal Hotel in Ventnor. Two nights’ B&B and dinner and return ferry from Southampton, Lymington or Portsmouth, from £570 in June for two. For details, go to
The Azores - Andrew & Fergie
IF there is one royal who loves his holidays, it is Prince Andrew, dubbed Air Miles Andy. He and Sarah Ferguson jetted off to the Azores for their honeymoon in 1986 – then spent their time sailing around on royal yacht Britannia. But it is a much better idea to stay on one of the nine volcanic islands to appreciate the laid-back style, spectacular scenery and, of course, wine and tapas.
Known as the “green island”, Sao Miguel is the largest and most popular, with its buzzing capital Ponta Delgada home to music festivals, art galleries and spas.The village of Furnas is famous for its hot springs and Terra Nostra gardens – the perfect romantic destination.
GO: Seven nights’ B&B at the 4* Furnas Boutique Hotel Thermal and Spa, including flights from Stansted on June 9, is from £870pp. See for details or to book.
Malta - Elizabeth & Philip
NEVER a couple to be flashy, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have always enjoyed romantic holidays away from the cameras.They honeymooned at Broadlands House in Hampshire, former home of Lord Mountbatten and now open to the public, and Birkhall on the Balmoral estate. But they have celebrated wedding anniversaries and enjoyed holidays on the Queen’s favourite island of Malta.
The capital Valletta has boosted its romantic appeal as European Capital of Culture for 2018 and boutique hotels, top-quality restaurants and trendy bars add to a vibrant nightlife.History lovers will enjoy the many sites recalling Malta’s dramatic past and visitors looking for a bit more than lazing on the beach can enjoy watersports.
GO: Seven nights’ B&B at 4* The Saint John Hotel in Valletta is from £638pp, including return flights from Gatwick on June 30. See .
Caribbean - Anne & Mark
A FEW royals have had a Caribbean cruise on the Royal Yacht Britannia, decommissioned in 1994, and now a tourist attraction in Edinburgh. Princess Margaret and the then Anthony Armstrong-Jones, and later Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, used the floating palace for their honeymoons – with a crew of more than 200 looking after just the two of them!
You can enjoy the royal treatment in a stateroom on Carnival Glory, pictured, a fun ship with eating options from a burger bar to fine dining. The 3,000 passengers are entertained day and night with a waterpark, mini-golf, pools and a comedy club. When you want a romantic time, head to the adult-only Serenity retreat or Cloud 9 spa.
GO: Seven-night Western Caribbean cruise on Carnival Glory, visiting Grand Cayman, Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan, Belize and Cozumel, including Heathrow flights to Miami on July 27, from £1,399pp. See
Scotland - George & Elizabeth
THE young royals love foreign holidays but King George VI and the Queen Mother were homebirds. They spent their honeymoon at a friend’s Surrey mansion then headed to Scotland to the Queen Mother’s childhood home Glamis Castle. A guided tour of the historic castle and grounds in Angus costs £12.50pp and includes a stroll around the magnificent gardens.
Couples can also get married in the castle and there is accommodation nearby, including luxury self-catering at Glamis House. There are many nearby attractions, such as the Angus Glens, country parks and museums. Forfar, the county town of Angus, is less than six miles away and popular with tourists who can’t resist the Forfar bridie, a pastry snack. Forfar’s appropriately-named Royal Hotel, above, has a heated pool, Jacuzzi and sauna.
GO: B&B at the Royal Hotel, in June is from £90 a couple. See .
Greek Cruise - Charles & his wives
PRINCE Charles is a creature of habit, taking both Diana and Camilla cruising around the Greek islands. Good choice, though, as they are stunningly beautiful and cruising is the perfect way to get a taste of more than one of the islands. And you don’t have to pay royal prices – you can also lap up all the romantic facilities a cruise ship such as MSC Lirica has to offer.
These include private balconies, sundecks, dinner for two and luxurious spa treatments.There are also six restaurants, five bars, pools, a casino and a running track. You will dock on Mykonos, Crete and Corfu and get to see one of the most romantic Med cities, Venice, where the ship sails from and returns to. There is an option to add on a stay there.
GO: Seven nights’ full-board on MSC Lirica, including flights from Gatwick to Venice on June 29, from £1,099pp. For more details see .
Monte Carlo - Harry & Meghan
THE French Riviera oozes glamour and romance, which is why it is a haven for royals and celebrities. Prince Harry whisked Meghan to sun-kissed Monte Carlo – where one of the most famous royal romances blossomed between Prince Rainier of Monaco and actress Grace Kelly. Step inside the Prince’s Palace to see royal glitz including the Louis XV lounge in yellow and gold, the throne room and 17th-century chapel.
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Walk the streets and route of the Formula One circuit, up the hill to the elaborate casino, which was featured in a number of James Bond films, including the original Casino Royale and GoldenEye. The coastline between Monte Carlo and Nice is breathtaking and trains run regularly along the route. Get off at Villefranche-sur-Mer, a pretty medieval village resort with cafes and restaurants fringing the quayside.
You will have no trouble finding great nightlife in Monte Carlo from pricey The Living Room to the more affordable Monte Carlo Bar.
GO: Four nights’ room-only at the Fairmont Monte Carlo, flying from Luton on June 9, is from £534pp, or from Newcastle from £649pp. See .