Carole Middleton famously celebrated her milestone 70th birthday on the Caribbean island of Mustique back in 2025 - but what do we know about the Princess of Wales and her family's go-to holiday destination?
A report in The Mail on Sunday last year revealed that Carole was joined by her nearest and dearest, including daughter Princess Kate and son-in-law Prince William along with their three children, her daughter Pippa, who was joined by her husband James, as well as her son James Middleton with his wife Alizee and their son, Inigo.
© Getty ImagesDuring their stay, it's believed that the Middleton clan stayed at the lavish five-bedroom villa gifted to Princess Margaret in 1959. Known as Les Jolies Eaux, the opulent property costs a whopping £37,000 per week and boasts a swimming pool, a dining pavilion, a butler, a gardener and a chef.
"In classic Messel style, guests arrive through a courtyard and into the glorious Great Room with a view of the pool and the gardens giving way to the Caribbean Sea beyond," a description on the website reads.
"The front of the house is instantly recognisable and leads to the extensive lawns running down to the hidden Gelliceaux beach, only discoverable by those 'in the know' and after which the house was named."
Family destination
© Getty ImagesIn his memoir, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, Kate's brother James Middleton revealed that Kate's royal wedding celebrations were Caribbean-themed. The bride and her family stayed at The Goring hotel the night before William and Kate's nuptials in 2011.
Speaking about the set-up in the London hotel, James wrote: "Ella and I find a quiet area in the garden to potter around. There, a replica of Basil's Bar in Mustique – a small private island in the Grenadines and a holiday spot the family had visited many times – has been set up. Basil himself is to be one of the wedding guests."
© Getty ImagesMeanwhile, back in 2019, Kate and William travelled to the tropical island where they marked Prince George's sixth birthday. At the time, they shared a sun-drenched photo of the youngster beaming from ear to ear while dressed in a forest green polo shirt and a pair of striped shorts.
While there, it's believed that the Wales clan stayed in a £27,000-a-week luxury villa, dubbed Villa Antilles. The mesmerising property, owned by William's friend Andrew Dunn, boasts four bedrooms, a 60ft infinity pool, a jacuzzi, private staff and incredible sea views out to the neighbouring islands of Bequia and Saint Vincent.
© Getty ImagesMustique's appeal
The small island is a firm favourite among the royals in light of its exclusivity and guaranteed privacy, making it the ultimate getaway for royals, rock stars, and billionaires.
The island boasts just one commercial hotel and operates a strict no-fly zone. Its reputation began in 1958 when a Scottish aristocrat bought the island and gifted a plot of land to Princess Margaret as a wedding present.
© Photo: RexMusic legends including Mick Jagger and David Bowie bought homes in the coming decades, putting Mustique firmly on the map.
The main appeal for the rich and famous is the fact that paparazzi are completely banned. All visitors must sign a non-disclosure agreement promising not to share photos or information about anyone else on the island. A private security force also tracks every single person arriving by plane or boat.
Instead of big, crowded resorts, the island has about 100 private luxury villas hidden in the hills, each fully staffed with private chefs, maids, and butlers.
