Prince William & Kate Middleton's Secret Yacht Vacation Has Royal Watchers Asking Questions
It's vacation time for Prince William and Kate Middleton, but this year, their trip is a bit more mysterious than others.
Local news outlet Enikos reported that the royal family, along with children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, and Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, were enjoying an elite holiday vacation. They traveled by private jet to Kefalonia airport, where they were met by a luxury van to transport them to a superyacht.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales don't own a yacht, but another royal family certainly does. According to SupercarBlondie, they are aboard a $450 million megayacht owned by Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates. The 479-foot vessel was built in Germany and delivered in February 2023, where it boasts not one, but two, helipads, a beach club, a modern gym, and an enormous swimming pool.
The royal couple haven't spoken publicly about this particular holiday, but luxury yacht enthusiasts have been tracking the vessel, along with local media. SupercarBlondie noted that the loaning of the vessel was unusual because the royal family of Abu Dhabi 'never let even the most richest of billionaires chart it, so that must mean their vacation was a treat from one royal family to another.'
Kate and William might find themselves in a bit of controversy for accepting the gift, though. The megayacht isn't exactly a beacon of environmental sustainability — a ship of this size creates carbon emissions issues. 'Simply owning [a megayacht] – or indeed building one – is an act of enormous climate vandalism,' The Guardian wrote in December 2023.
Considering that William's passion project is the Earthshot Prize, it isn't the best look for the royal. Just weeks ago, the Prince of Wales urged leaders at the United for Wildlife coalition in London to act with 'urgency' over climate change, per People.
'All life begins with nature. Our forests, rivers, and the ocean are not just landscapes; they are the foundation of life on Earth. They regulate our climate, provide food and water, and sustain economies worldwide,' he said. 'We are here today not only to recognize this truth, but to act on it with urgency and purpose.'
The superyacht vacation probably won't win William points with climate activists, and it might be why he and Kate are so secretive about their luxurious holiday this year.Best of SheKnows
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