Prince William and Kate Middleton Traded BAFTAs For Caribbean Vacation: Report

Since 2017, Prince William, Kate Middleton, or both have walked the red carpet at the BAFTA Awards, but this year, neither attended the event, as Vanity Fair reported earlier this week. While Kensington Palace declined to explain why the Prince and Princess of Wales skipped this year’s ceremony, a report published today says they opted for a Caribbean vacation instead.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Prince William, Princess Cate, and children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis hopped a British Airways commercial flight—albeit, in business class—on Thursday. After landing in Saint Lucia, the family took a private flight to the island of Mustique.

Prince William, Prince of Wales, president of Bafta attends the Bafta Film Awards 2024 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre on February 18, 2024 in London, England.

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(According to the Mail, the family was able to fly together as “the protocol that heirs to the throne fly separately [has] been relaxed in recent years.” However, that rule to protect the line of succession hasn’t traditionally kicked in until the second-in-line to the throne turns 12. As eldest child George doesn’t turn 12 until July 22 of this year, it’s also possible that they are enjoying their full-family flights while they can.)

Mustique has been a favorite of William and Kate’s for a while now, even heading there when George was a mere 18 months old. The annual trip appears to be a Middleton family tradition in February, with Kate making the trip in past years even when William is unavailable. They’ve also headed there in the summer months, loading up the whole family for a weeks-long stay some Julys, during which the couple has been known to ditch the kids for a grown-up night out on the town.

Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge attend the EE British Academy Film Awards ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall on 02 February, 2020 in London, England.

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The family, which typically flies commercially when on personal business and takes private jets when traveling for work, prefers Mustique because it grants them a level of privacy they can’t always get at home. “It is incredibly private and incredibly discreet but not remote,” a source close to the royal family said in 2019. “They know and trust the staff who work there and they are creatures of habit. Kate used to go there, the Middletons used to go there. The family love it.”

And who can blame them for choosing to head out this week, with the London weather a rough 36 degrees Fahrenheit as the stars assembled at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday—many surely shivering in their gorgeous gowns? (Of course Vanity Fair has photos of all the best BAFTAs outfits and looks.) Right now in Mustique, it’s 83 degrees and mostly sunny, so—especially after their struggles in the past year—who can argue against a break in the sun?

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