In the olden days, the Cambridges made a summer pilgrimage to the Caribbean island of Mustique, or Biarritz, the French surf town. But with the global pandemic closing borders and long-haul travel posing serious safety issues, this year the royal family took a holiday a closer to home.
Multiple reports say Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their three children vacationed in Tresco, a charming spot in the Isles of Scilly off the southwestern coast of England. The Duke and Duchess were spotted joyfully biking around the coast—a necessary means of transportation, as Tresco is a car-free island.
Where did they stay, you ask? That would be Dolphin House, a charming six-bedroom stone cottage with expansive views of the sea and the famed Round Island lighthouse. Privacy is paramount at Dolphin House, as the property is set amid a walled garden brimming with greenery. (It’s also available for anyone to rent.)
Prince William has quite the history with Tresco: in 1989, he was pictured there with his father, Prince Charles, mother, Princess Diana, and brother Prince Harry. Decades later, he and the Duchess made an official visit there.
It is also, one day, land that will be his: Tresco is part of the Duchy of Cornwall, the private estate of the Prince of Wales. When Charles becomes king, the duchy will pass to William.
Royal lineages aside, their family trip to the Isles of Scilly is just another example of a pandemic travel trend. More and more people, seeking a safe respite from their homes, are visiting local destinations rather than international ones. In the United States, a recent survey found the majority of Americans don’t expect to return to air travel until 2020. Meanwhile, in the U.K., cottages, off the grid properties, and camping sites have seen a surge in summer bookings. “The rise of the staycation is a perennial story. In the past five years, heatwaves, Brexit, the weak pound, overseas terrorist attacks and, more recently, the climate crisis have all boosted UK holiday bookings. This year, coronavirus looks set to do the same as British travellers swap holidays abroad for a break closer to home,” concluded The Guardian. It seems the Cambridges are just one of many families rediscovering their own backyard.