Royal honeymoon: Where will Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank go?
The Queen's granddaughter, Princess Eugenie, today married wine merchant Jack Brooksbank in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. What happens after the party? We take a look at the likely destinations the jetsetting couple might pick for their honeymoon...
Verbier, Switzerland
A destination that the couple might choose for its significance is Verbier: Eugenie and Brooksbank first met each other at this Swiss ski resort in 2010, during the Duke of York’s 50th birthday celebrations. Indeed, they are frequent visitors to these mountain slopes, and Eugenie’s parents, the Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, jointly own a chalet here.
The princess may balk at the idea at spending her honeymoon in her parent’s house, but there are plenty of options available. A chalet rental, perhaps? But then there’s the W Verbier, which would not only reinforce the newlyweds’ socialite credentials, but also claims what is possibly the best position in town, just opposite the Médran gondola.
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Amalfi Coast, Italy
Was it a holiday, or was it a scouting trip? The pair’s latest excursion was to the Amalfi Coast, where they were spotted spending some pre-wedding quality time (mainly eating pasta) ahead of the whirlwind of wedding preparation that they are no doubt experiencing now.
But which hotel would they plump for, should this be the place? It’s impossible to say, with many world-class hotels hugging the cliff that stretches from Positano to Raito. A good number of Hollywood royalty – the likes of Julia Roberts and George Clooney – have been drawn to Il San Pietro di Positano. Another option that might appeal to the Royal couple is the Belmond Hotel Caruso in Ravello, thanks to its grand interiors and views to match.
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Necker Island, Caribbean
Richard Branson has reportedly offered the happy couple the use of his private island resort, in the Caribbean, which was devastated when Hurricane Irma swept through the region this time last year. The rebuild is progressing well, however, and Eugenie and Brooksbank may get a chance to preview the new-and-improved Necker ahead of its official reopening, which is currently slated for November.
While obviously very exclusive (not to mention expensive), the set-up is fairly simple. There's little to distract aside from the sandy beaches, a swimming pool, a couple of dining options (including al fresco on the beach or a sushi bar by the pool) and abundance of giant tortoises, lemurs and flamingos.
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Namibia
And why not? This year has seen the southern African nation really take off as one of the world’s hottest holiday destinations (in more ways than one), with a spate of exciting hotel openings culminating in it becoming the odds-on favourite to host a certain other royal honeymoon. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex didn’t wind up there in the end, but that makes it no less appealing.
Safari is the thing in Namibia, and the likeliest notion for a high-end honeymoon would be a stay at Hoanib Valley Camp in the northern Kaokoveld, home to rare, desert-adapted species of elephant and giraffe, and black rhino. Then there’s Shipwreck Lodge, Hoanib’s sister camp on the starkly beautiful Skeleton Coast.
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Seychelles
Prince Harry remains tight-lipped about his own honeymoon, but Eugenie could always look to another of her cousins for inspiration. In 2011, following their own wedding, watched by tens of millions around the world, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge jetted off to the Seychelles for a bit of time out of the public eye.
They stayed at North Island, described by our own reviewer, Paula Hardy, as something akin to a 'natural cathedral': "Nowhere is this more apparent than in the use of upturned takamaka trees their sculptural roots splayed out like the ribs of medieval vaults supporting the thatched roofs."
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Tahiti, French Polynesia
Few places typify exotic escape more than Tahiti. Certainly the late Marlon Brando found that reality very much lived up to reputation while he was there filming Mutiny on the Bounty – so much did he fall for the place that he bought the nearby island Tetiaroa and built an environmentally sustainable resort that has since become one of the world's most sought-after stays.
And it is rare that a high-profile wedding go by that The Brando isn't touted as a potential honeymoon destination, the speculation striking true in 2016 when Pippa Middleton, following her own marriage to hedge fund manager James Matthews, honeymooned there. Other notable guests have included Barack and Michelle Obama, Jay-Z and Beyoncé, and Leonardo di Caprio.
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The Azores
A very left-field option indeed, but since Sarah, Duchess of York is reportedly taking an active hand in planning the wedding, she may have some recommendations from her own honeymoon, back in 1986, when she and the Duke of York flew to The Azores for a few days before taking an Atlantic cruise aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia.
The Portuguese islands offer several good accommodation options, foremost of which is the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel. This modern five-star sits on the eponymous garden, famous for its geothermal springs, which the hotel’s guests are in a uniquely privileged position to take advantage of.
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Nicaragua
It was here that Brooksbank proposed to Eugenie while on holiday last January and, a return to the central American country could still very much be on the cards. However, a political crisis has swept through Nicaragua since the couple’s last visit, and a return may be deemed too risky.
Then again, there is always Calala Island. This idyllic resort is set on its own cay just off Nicaragua’s Caribbean coastline, and is thus well removed from the turmoil. With just four guest villas, it’s alluringly discreet, while sumptuous dining and a pristine setting tick off all the boxes for a honeymoon in the tropics.