6 Destinations Where Royal Couples Have Spent Their Honeymoon

Speculation is rife about where Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will be jetting off on honeymoon after their wedding on May 19, with Botswana and Namibia proving the hottest tips of the moment. Here's a look at some of the honeymoon hotspots chosen by previous royal newlyweds.

1. Kate Middleton & Prince William

Above After their highly publicized wedding, Kate Middleton and Prince William escaped the media glare with a honeymoon in the Seychelles; Photo: Courtesy of Kuba Barzycki/Shutterstock

As a new generation of royals, Kate Middleton and Prince William were among the first to opt for a honeymoon in a far-flung destination out of the public eye. The couple jetted off to the Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands located off the East African coast. According to the British press, they enjoyed the idyllic setting in a $6,000-a-night luxury villa on a particularly secluded island. Kate and William had previously visited the Seychelles four years before their 2011 wedding, where the couple reportedly made a pact that they would one day marry.

2. Elizabeth II & Prince Philip

Above Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip pose for photos during their honeymoon at Broadlands, November 25, 1947; Photo: Courtesy of AFP

When Elizabeth Windsor married Philip Mountbatten, November 20, 1947, her father George VI was still on the throne and she did not yet know that she would soon be Queen. The newlyweds began their honeymoon at Broadlands, a country house near Romsey, Hampshire, which was the family home of the Mountbattens (Prince Philip's family). They then headed to Birkhall in Scotland, a place close to Elizabeth's heart since it was her childhood home on the Balmoral estate.

3. Diana & Prince Charles

Above Princess Diana and Prince Charles spent part of their honeymoon at Balmoral Castle on the royal estate in Scotland; Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Milligan/POOL/AFP

After the media frenzy surrounding their wedding on July 29, 1981, the royal couple headed off to Balmoral Castle on the royal estate in Scotland. The newlyweds then set sail on the Royal Yacht Britannia, the royal family's final yacht, which was named by Elizabeth II in the 1950s (it was decommissioned in 1997 and turned into a visitor attraction). Charles and Diana sailed the Mediterranean for two weeks.

4. Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier III

Above After their wedding, Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly sailed the Mediterranean on their yacht "Deo Juvante II"; Photo: Courtesy of AFP

International jet-setter Aristotle Onassis gave Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III of Monaco a yacht called "Deo Juvante II" as a wedding present. The newlyweds put it straight to use with a Mediterranean cruise for their honeymoon.

5. Charlene & Prince Albert II of Monaco

Above Albert II of Monaco and Charlene spent their honeymoon in Durban, South Africa; Photo: Courtesy of michaeljung/iStock

This honeymoon may not have been all R&R for the Monaco prince and the former Olympic swimmer, since it gave rise to many comments and rumors in the press. The newlyweds chose Charlene's native South Africa for their traditional post-wedding vacation. However, the lovebirds reportedly stayed in separate hotels, with the princess sojourning at the legendary Oyster Box, Umhlanga Rocks, around 15km north of Durban, while the prince stayed in a Hilton Hotel in the city center. This "arrangement" led to much media speculation.

6. Letizia & Prince Felipe VI of Spain

Above Letizia & Prince Felipe VI of Spain visited the medieval walled city of Cuenca in Spain on their 2004 honeymoon; Photo: Courtesy of Freeartist/iStock

The son of Juan Carlos I and Sofia of Greece was not yet King of Spain when he met Spanish TV journalist Letizia. Their wedding, in May 2004, was a highly publicized event. The couple began their honeymoon in Cuenca, in Castilla-La Mancha, not far from Madrid where the couple married. This medieval fortified city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, bringing a cultural dimension to their trip. Indeed, the couple also visited artistic sites in and around the town, famous for its casas colgadas (hanging houses), suspended from sheer cliffs overlooking the Huécar river.

Topics

royal wedding meghan markle prince harry prince william kate middleton queen elizabeth II prince philip honeymoon destination vacation

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