The beloved royal retreat since he visited with his mum Diana, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall have visited at least three times, as well as visits with the kids
Prince William enjoys a cycling holiday with his brother Harry and parents on Tresco.(Image: PA)
This breathtaking island remains a cherished retreat for the Prince and Princess of Wales. The Royal couple have made at least three visits together, subsequently returning with their three youngsters, George, Charlotte and Louis.
However, William’s ties to this island stretch back decades, having first explored it as a youngster alongside his parents, the then Prince Charles and Princess Diana, during the 1980s. Prince William also conducted an official engagement there last year.
Located 28 miles from the English coastline, this island forms part of a cluster of 140, though merely five support permanent residents, boasting “outstandingly beautiful, uncrowded and unspoiled” vistas.
Unsurprisingly, given their natural splendour and convenient location relative to the UK mainland, Duke and Duchess of Cornwall William and Kate’s family aren’t the sole admirers of this destination. Approximately 100,000 tourists descend upon the area annually to savour its mild climate, magnificent terrain, pristine sandy shores and crystal-clear azure waters.
Nestled within the Isles of Scilly, merely 28 miles from Cornwall’s coastline, sits the island of Tresco. Here, life moves at the gentle pace of the tides, reports the Express.
The charming isle spans just 1.15 square miles, stretching roughly 3.5 km (2.2 miles) by 1.75 km (1.09 miles).
Come March 2026, the island will play host to a wellness festival marking the spring equinox, offering a week-long programme of natural wellbeing led by local practitioners and visiting specialists. The Prince and Princess of Wales have made at least three visits to Tresco as a married couple: in 2016, 2020, and 2021, with the family spotted cycling around the island in 2020 alongside their three youngsters.
The Royal family made another trip to this peaceful retreat in 2021.
Stocking up on holiday essentials! Prince William visits at shop on the Isles of Scilly.(Image: Getty)
New Grimsby and Old Grimsby serve as Tresco’s principal settlements, alongside several smaller communities dotted across the landscape.
One fellow visitor revealed to The Sun: “We hardly noticed at first as they seemed a normal family on holiday intent on keeping themselves to themselves. The place where they were staying was quite modest and certainly not hugely luxurious.”
The then Cambridges and their Royal protection team arrived via helicopter transport to Tresco.
“Boat taxis known as Specials were organised for low-key scenic boat trips for the family to be privately taken to some of the wilder islands for bird watching and seeing dolphins. This island is part private so a bit like their favourite holiday destination Mustique, but without the mosquitoes.”
William and Kate had previously explored the island in 2016, when they were photographed touring the Tresco Abbey Garden and catching a vessel to St Martins. They’re not the first Royal parents to bring their offspring there either – Charles and Diana brought William and Harry to these islands back in 1989.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Tresco Abbey Garden in Tresco, Isles of Scilly.(Image: PA)
The Duchy of Cornwall administers the island on behalf of the crown, with the Dorrien-Smith estate holding the lease and operating it as a timeshare enterprise. For those desiring their own piece of this Cornish haven, there are approximately 5,000 tourist beds available on the islands, making it a perfect retreat for royals or celebrities seeking a tranquil stay.
St Mary’s is the largest island of the isles, home to 1,600 residents, and an additional 5,000 individuals reside across the other four islands, Tresco, Bryher, St Martin and St Agnes.
These sub-tropical islands hold the title for being the warmest in the British Isles, boasting a mild climate throughout the year.
To reach the islands, one can either board a boat, plane or helicopter from Cornwall, including same day return ferry trips.
Boats depart from Penzance six days a week during peak season, once in the morning and once in the evening, taking just under three hours. Hopper boats also operate between the islands most days during the summer high season.
Tresco Island off the coast of Cornwall is one of the popular Scilly Isles.(Image: Getty)
For air travel, you can catch a Skybus from Land’s End, Exeter or Newquay, which take between 30 minutes and 60 minutes, or book a Penzance Helicopter.
The islands offer a variety of B&Bs and camping sites to choose from, while the larger islands feature a few hotels and plenty of B&Bs.
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