Is there a couple more worthy of our jealousy than Prince William and his new wife Kate Middleton? In addition to having the wedding of the decade on April 29, the newly crowned Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have taken some truly enviable trips, like their quasi-honeymoon in the Seychelles or their well publicized trip to Hollywood. So if you want to live like Wills and Kate, prepare yourself to go on one heck of a Royal tour!
Stop 1: London
London sets the scene for the most televised wedding of the decade. Head to Westminster Abbey, where the happy couple tied the knot, before moseying over to the Queen’s residence, Buckingham Palace; this was also the scene of the first (and second) royal kisses and Clarence House, William’s official residence in London. There are a million places you can visit in Old Blighty, but if you want to really step into Kate’s fabulous shoes, check out the shops on Thurloe Street in Kensington, including the Duchess’ favorite, Bruce Oldfield, or wear your coolest sneakers to attend a Wimbledon match. After a day of sight-seeing and browsing, prepare yourself for a posh and trendy club night at Mayfair’s Mahiki or Kensington’s Boujis both favorites of William and his brother Harry.
Stop 2: Seychelles
Kate and William spent their brief post-wedding honeymoon at this uber-romantic island in the Indian Ocean; it was also where the couple had a ‘make or break’ moment following a brief split in 2007. Although the two spent a week on the private and very tiny island of Desroches – 150 miles by helicopter from the main island of Mahé – you might want to go for a less aggressive (and expensive) trip. Instead, enjoy the slow pace and white sand beaches of La Digue or the Vallee de Mai nature reserve – one of two places in the world where you can see the weirdly wonderful coco de mer palm grow – on the island of Praslin.
Stop 3: Anglesey
It’s only natural that Will and Kate needed to stop home before continuing their world tour, and there is no place quite like Anglesey in Wales. William is based in this northwestern Welsh town because of his job as a search and rescue helicopter pilot for the Royal Air Force; while he works, Kate gets to enjoy the serenity and natural beauty of her new home. Although tourism has shot up since Wills and his bride made Anglesey their home, it’s still a small area known for its beaches, cliffs and farmland. Take the Stena Line ferry or an Anglesey walking day tour for great views. If you have time for a side trip, head to the island of Llanddwyn, reachable by foot at low tide. If you really want your love story to turn out like Will and Kate’s, you should know that Llanddwyn is known as the Welsh island of love and was once home to Santes Dwynwen, the patron saint of Welsh lovers.
Stop 4: Canada
In addition to learning to say ‘eh?’ like natives, Wills and Kate touched down late June for a nine-day tour of four Canadian provinces and one territory. To be like William, pick up a stick and play street hockey in Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories or attend a cooking workshop at the Institut de tourisme et d’hotellerie du Quebec in Montreal. Visit the Prince Edward Island town of Dalvay by the Sea, where the Anne of Green Gables TV movie was filmed. Take part in the famous Calgary stampede. Take a walk around George St. in St. John’s. Eat some Canadian caribou with your bumbleberry pie. Try the native drink – ice wine – but, if I were you, I’d avoid the Canada Cooler, a super cheap, super aggressive sparkling wine cooler.
Stop 5: California
Although the royal couple’s California adventure wasn’t about hobnobbing with the stars, they were surrounded by Hollywood’s elite anyway. David and Victoria Beckham are, after all, their good friends – and even attended their wedding. It isn’t hard to imagine that Posh and Becks probably showed their pals their favorite restaurants like Fig & Olive, Barclay Prime and Fogo de Chao and nighttime spots like Soho House, Playhouse and Hemingway’s in Hollywood. We’re sure Kate didn’t miss out on Victoria’s favorite places for retail therapy — Marc Jacobs, Barneys and The Grove – either!