Prince William and Princess Catherine have once again chosen the serene Isles of Scilly for their annual summer holiday, opting for a coastal retreat that offers both privacy and a touch of nostalgia.
Located off the southwestern tip of England, the picturesque Tresco Island welcomed the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — for a quiet family break.
They visited the Isles of Scilly this week. For William, it was a throwback to his own childhood, when he and his brother Prince Harry were taken to the islands by their parents, Princess Diana and Prince Charles.
William and Catherine chose to stay in the UK for the season, with their children George, Charlotte, and Louis.
While tradition once guided royal summers to Balmoral Castle in Scotland,
there’s now a gentler alternative the family often favors.
Nestled just off the coast of Cornwall,
these subtropical islands offer the kind of peaceful seclusion only nature can bestow.
Among them, Tresco Island holds a special place in the hearts of the Wales family —
not just for its beauty, but for its history, warmth, and quiet familiarity.
For the children, this is more than a destination —
it’s where the everyday is replaced with wonder.
George, who once celebrated his 9th birthday on the island,
now returns with an ease that suggests Tresco is already etched into his sense of home.
Charlotte, curious and bright, is said to love the boat rides,
with the family often arranging quiet scenic trips to nearby wilder islands for birdwatching or spotting dolphins.
Louis, the youngest, thrives in the open air, far removed from palace corridors.
The family is often spotted cycling along the sandy tracks,
dressed simply, blending in.
One passerby once remarked how ordinary they seemed —
like any other family savoring a moment of peace.
Tresco has welcomed the royal family for generations.
Prince William once spent his own childhood holidays here with Prince Harry and their mother, Princess Diana.
There’s a gentle circle in that:
the son returning as a father, tracing footsteps not only through landscape, but through memory.
Princess Catherine, ever intentional, seems to embrace these moments for their meaning.
For her, these escapes are not just about rest —
but connection to nature, to her children, and to the simpler joys that anchor them amidst public duty.
Prince William and Catherine toured the islands in an official capacity many years ago.
However, the weather didn’t always cooperate,
and the couple had to put up umbrellas in the drizzle at one point during their September 2016 visit.