Kate and Prince William’s mystery Greek holiday has finally been solved after the royals and their children secretly stayed aboard the opulent £20million Lady Beatrice yacht

Kate and William spent their summer holiday in Greece with their children(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

When the Prince and Princess of Wales whisked their family away for their annual summer escape to Kefalonia, locals were left intrigued.

The island’s residents, well-versed in spotting the superyachts of the world’s rich and famous, were stumped by which vessel William, Kate, and their children were holidaying on. Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands in Greece, known for attracting the world’s rich and famous.

For weeks, speculation swirled, with some arguing the royal family had boarded a megayacht owned by a UAE royal, while others pointed to the cutting-edge Almax, a £40 million fuel-cell vessel known for its eco credentials.

The Lady Beatrice yacht is worth £20million(Image: superyachtfan)

A witness even reported seeing the Princess of Wales on board. But when the Almax later reappeared with another party, that theory quickly sank.

According to an investigation by the Mail on Sunday, the mystery has now been solved: the royal party were guests aboard Lady Beatrice, a 60-metre yacht once owned by the late Barclay twins and recently sold for around £20million to financier Peter Dubens.

The Lady Beatrice carries with it a legacy of both luxury and intrigue. Originally named after the Barclays’ mother, the yacht’s interiors reflect their eccentric tastes – complete with pin-striped seating, faux Greek columns, and frescoed ceilings in the dining room.

With space for 16 guests, a swimming pool, and multiple dining decks, it remains a floating symbol of indulgence.

Dubens, who made his fortune through private equity and ventures ranging from colour-changing T-shirts in the 1980s to investments in media firms, keeps a relatively low profile.

He is chairman of the Time Out Group and founder of Oakley Capital, which two years ago became a minority investor in Thomas’s Battersea – the London school attended by Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Sir David Barclay (left) and his twin brother Sir Frederick after receiving their knighthoods from the Queen at Buckingham Palace(Image: PA)

The royal family’s trip, which included Kate’s parents Carole and Michael Middleton and other relatives, began on July 21 when they flew by private jet to Kefalonia.

Reports suggest they were taken by limousine to a quiet marina before being ferried by tender to the yacht, which had discreetly switched off its tracking system shortly beforehand to maintain privacy.

“The children impressed with their politeness and patience during the procedures and inconveniences of the trip,” reported Kefalonia Press.

The family spent several days anchored at secluded points around the island, with Prince George reportedly captivated by the seabed and asking crew to fetch snorkelling equipment.

While security teams scouted Fiskardo – regarded as the island’s most picturesque village – the royals ultimately chose to remain on board, wary that a public appearance might overwhelm their young children.

Life aboard Lady Beatrice has not always been so tranquil. In 2022, during her divorce proceedings, Hiroko Barclay recalled tensions between her late husband Sir Frederick and his twin, Sir David, claiming the brothers once physically fought on deck over the future of their business empire.

By contrast, the Waleses appear to have enjoyed a quiet, family-oriented retreat. They left Greece on July 26, with Prince William and Princess Charlotte soon travelling to Switzerland to watch the Lionesses triumph in the Euro 2022 final.