04 November 2023 , 17:00
1161
0
Even before she married into the Royal Family, the then Kate Middleton enjoyed a very luxurious lifestyle. She partied in some of London's most exclusive clubs, wore designer clothes and went on some very, very fancy holidays.
Unsurprisingly, Kate's incredible trips have continued since she married Prince William and started her new life as the Duchess of Cambridge, now Princess of Wales. These getaways include a luxury £27,000-a-week retreat to the idyllic Caribbean island of Mustique.
But apparently the late Queen had a few concerns about her future granddaughter-in-law's jet-set lifestyle in the past. In her 2010 book William and Harry, royal expert Katie Nicholl writes: "If she was not with William at Balmoral then the couple were skiing or holidaying on Mustique.
Kate used to go on some very, very lovely breaks (Getty)"Kate was there so often the press dubbed her 'Queen of Mustique', a title that had previously belonged to Princess Margaret. Britain was now in a recession an and such frivolous displays of wealth were unpalatable to the Queen.
"She is one of the hardest-working royals, despite her age, and that a future member of the family was without a full-time job was unacceptable to her. While the rest of the world speculated that an engagement was on the horizon for William and Kate, the Queen believed an announcement should be postponed until Kate was settled in a career."
Kate Middleton swears by £19.99 rosehip oil that helps 'reduce wrinkles & scars'
In the book, Nicholl quotes a source who says: "It is Her Majesty's opinion that if Kate is one day going to be William's consort, then she needs a proper job. Swanning from one five-star holiday resort to another is not the prerequisite for a young woman possibly destined to be Queen." Nicholl claims Kate was "stung" by the Queen's words.
Despite enjoying lavish trips to Jordan and the Caribbean, William and Kate also often enjoy stactations with their children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five. The family-of-five have taken staycations on the Isles of Scilly off the Cornish coast in previous years.
Like many of the royals, the Prince and Princess of Wales are also avid skiiers, and took their children on their first skiing holiday in the French Alps back in 2016. The royal couple shared adorable photographs from the visit, with George and Charlotte wrapped nice and snug in huge snow suits.