The Windsors’ snowman didn’t last long with the temperatures of the last days which climbed above 10°C — and felt closer to 20°C under the warmth sun. The children had built it at the entrance of a discreet chalet, owned by close friends of the family, at the edge of one of the resort’s forests. Recently skied by William and Kate — with the Princess of Wales reportedly going “full speed ahead”— the green slope running alongside this peaceful haven has now turned to mud. And, the campanula, a delicate alpine flower, has begun to cover the ground with its characteristic pale mauve hue. “That was my last slope,” sighed one of the few remaining skiers still venturing along these remote trails, unfastening his bindings just a few meters from the ski lift once used by the royals to access the rest of the Three Valleys — the largest ski area in the world.
The royal couple seized the end of the season to enjoy a low-key family retreat, far from the glitz of Courchevel. “We knew they were here,” a technician revealed, “but only a few of us actually saw them — I don’t know more than that,” he added cautiously, worried he might have already said too much. Indeed, whenever they visit — like in January, when they stayed with Kate’s brother, James Middleton —their presence is carefully kept under wraps. Their escort is reduced to the minimum. They are secured by just a few guards. And neighbors are tight-lipped. “Werethey here this week?” we dared to ask a couple in their sixties strolling hand in hand nearby. “Perhaps,” they replied with a mischievous smile. The secret is well protected.
Wednesday, April 2nd, on the balcony of their chalet.
Wednesday, April 2nd, on the balcony of their chalet.
© DR
Only a handful of ski staff were informed of the Galles’ arrival. Management discreetly briefed them on which ski lifts the family might use. “We were also asked to be especially kind to them,” the same technician shared — such as helping Louis or Charlotte onto the ski tow if needed, a surprisingly tricky and risky maneuver !
« Normal life »
According to several sources, no slopes were closed during their stay. “In the past, high-profile guests — monarchs or their heirs —would request to privatize part of the resort,” said a longtime resident who worked for over thirty years at Le Chabichou, a gourmet restaurant at the foot of the slopes. “It’s even said,” another local added, “that in the early 1980s, King Juan Carlos of Spain never used the chairlifts and instead took a helicopter to the top of the runs.”
That’s not Kate and William’s style. Despite the weight of the Crown, they’ve always tried to maintain a “normal” life for their children — George (11), Charlotte (9), and Louis (6). Passersby even spotted George playing near the family chalet with nothing more than a few rocks, like any over child, while his parents enjoyed the sun from the first-floor terrace overlooking part of the ski domain. The Prince wore dark shorts and a hoodie; the Princess, a red and gray sweater with “ski” printed in bold letters across the chest.
La suite après cette publicité
Behind the ski instructor, Louis and Charlotte. Kate brings up the rear.
No Credit / ELIOTPRESS
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© DR
“They’re very down-to-earth,” said a friend of the ski rental shop owner where the family are now regulars. The boutique, located in one of the resort’s five palaces, is known for its exceptional service : you sink into a comfortable velvet bench, get offered hot drinks and sweet treats, while staff help you into your boots — and the same royal-level treatment awaits you when you return from the slopes.
“George is getting pretty good”
In his youth, William skied in Switzerland or Austria with his parents and younger brother, Harry. But meeting Kate introduced him to the beauty of the French Alps, which she had visited as a child with her family. Since 2010, the couple have regularly returned to Courchevel, a favorite among the British. A sign outside a small grocery store near their chalet even reads : “British food products sold here.” Fifteen years ago, their wedding was still just a rumor stoked by the press eager to see “Waity Katie” finally become a Princess — and one day, Queen. After their marriage, they returned six years later… as a family of four ! Then in 2022… a family of five ! All three children learned to ski here.
“George is getting pretty good,” noted an attentive observer. “He’s the only one able to keep up with his father without an instructor.” The two younger ones — “at an average level” — were always accompanied by a private ski instructor. Although the family came to the mountains to spend time together, it was rare to see them all skiing the same slope. Kate would stay with the children while William often went off on his own. He was spotted on the Chapelets lift — one of the most remote in the resort — eyes fixed on his phone, seemingly preoccupied. Every day, he returned early from the slopes. A future King of England — the next heir to the throne — is never truly off-duty, especially following King Charles III’s brief hospitalization, just before their trip to the Alps. Due to “temporary side effects,” the Palace quickly clarified, as if to dispel lingering concerns and move past the Windsor family’s annus horribilis.
In late March 2024, Kate, visibly emotional, announced she was undergoing treatment for cancer, ending months of speculation about her health. “To anyone facing this disease in any form, don’t lose faith or hope,” she said, pale-faced, in a short video widely shared on social media. “You are not alone!” Just days earlier, Buckingham Palace had revealed that the King, too, was suffering from “a form of cancer,” discovered after a routine prostate operation. Now in remission, the Princess says she feels “relieved and focused on healing.”
« Like all Brits, they love the sun
“They seemed happy to be here,” said an employee of La Cave des Creux, a former sheepfold turned into a mountain restaurant offering stunning views of Mont Blanc. Accessible only by skis, this family-run establishment, staffed by locals, has become something of a canteen for the Galles. “They come often,” the source confirmed. To better accommodate them, service is usually scaled down, and a table is reserved inside to avoid curious eyes. But this time, they chose to sit on the terrace, facing the slopes. “Like all Brits, they love the sun,” joked their early-April host with a wink. He refused to say whether they opted for one of the regional specialties — like cheese fondue, available plain, with morels, or with truffles — or went for a classic dish like the mushroom chicken supreme. Ordering in a “very decent” French, they were “adorable” throughout the meal. For dessert, the children received little tokens — something the restaurant offers all young guests —allowing them to choose from a treasure trove of treats : Black Forest cake, caramel crêpe millefeuille… A light-hearted way to end the lunch. After paying by card, the parents, of course, left a tip.
Did William even notice the cover of Paris Match issue no. 618 pinned at the entrance to the men’s restroom ? It celebrated skier Guy Périllat’s latest exploits in 1961 — the year his mother was born. Also featured on the cover a story on Queen Elizabeth’s tour of Asia : “Elizabeth in India: A Colorful Fairy Tale.”
At the end of their stay, the couple was given a bottle of wine by the children’s ski instructor. “Has anyone asked you lately what kind of gift might please a prestigious English guest ?” we innocently asked the owner of a nearby wine cellar. “No idea,” she replied. “And you know, ‘prestigious’ clients, as you call them, are nothing unusual around here.”
Discretion remained the rule. The Windsors departed the mountains just as they had arrived — almost without notice.