Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 31, 2025 · Entertainment

Royal Mystery Unveiled: Kate & William's £20 Million Greek Island Adventure on Lady Beatrice

Nothing much gets past the island of Kefalonia's wily inhabitants but even the most razor-sharp were left in the dark about aspects of William and Kate's recent holiday (the royal ouple pictured with their daughter Charlotte)

ROYAL MYSTERY UNRAVELED: THE DUBENS CONNECTION

In a tale of opulence, secrecy, and intrigue, the recent Greek island getaway of Prince William and Kate Middleton has finally been laid bare for all to see. The usually tight-lipped royals seem to have slipped up in their efforts to keep their vacation under wraps, and it's not just the Greek islanders who are buzzing with excitement.

Kefalonia, a picturesque Ionian gem, is no stranger to high-profile visitors, but this time around, it was the Prince and Princess of Wales who stole the show. With their entourage in tow, including Kate's parents Michael and Carole Middleton and four other "relatives," the royal party descended upon the island like a pair of benevolent overlords.

Perhaps because the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children George, 12, Charlotte, ten, and seven-year-old Louis spent most of it on a superyacht (pictured, the boat they were on)

But what really got tongues wagging was the identity of the superyacht they were said to be sailing on. Initially, it was reported that the royal family had commandeered a £340 million megayacht owned by a prominent UAE royal family member. Later, other possibilities emerged, including Microsoft mogul Charles Simonyi's 90m (295ft) Norn.

However, just when you thought you'd seen the last of the yacht-hopping royals, along came Penelope Likoudi, a retired civil servant who swore she'd spotted Kate on board the £40 million Almax. The eco-friendly boat seemed like an ideal match for Prince William's green credentials, but alas, it turned out to be just another red herring.

As it transpired, Lady Beatrice was the true love of the royals' summer getaway. This 60m (197ft) behemoth of a yacht is a testament to opulence, boasting pin-striped sofa seating, faux Greek columns, and even a Renaissance-style fresco ceiling in the formal dining area. It's no wonder that British financier Peter Dubens, who purchased the Lady Beatrice for around £20 million this year, was keen to keep its whereabouts under wraps.

The big question, though, was whose yacht were the royals on? In fact, as The Mail on Sunday reveals exclusively today, only now does it appear that the mystery has been finally solved. Pictured: The boat's lavish interior

Dubens' connection to the royal family is tenuous at best, but his firm, Oakley Capital, has invested in Thomas's Battersea school, where Prince George and Princess Charlotte attend. While some might view private equity firms as corporate vultures, Dubens prefers a more benevolent image: "We help companies in difficulty."

But what really set tongues wagging was the royals' decision to keep their vacation under wraps – or so it seemed. It turns out that Lady Beatrice had been cruising around the Ionian seas for days before the royal party's arrival, leaving a trail of mystery and intrigue in its wake.

According to Kefalonia Press, the royals flew into the island on July 21, rather than the previously reported date, via private jet. The yacht was last spotted on July 20, anchored off Kalamos Island, but then seemingly vanished from marine tracking systems – a curious move, given that most yachts would keep their Automatic Identification System (AIS) active for security and safety reasons.

Now, citing impeccable sources, Kefalonia Press, a well-regarded news website, says it has confirmed that William and co were on a different boat: the Lady Beatrice (pictured, the interior)

However, it's clear that the royals were determined to keep a low profile. They took a limousine to Agia Pelagia marina near Svoronata village, where they met up with Lady Beatrice by tender boat. For the next few days, they island-hopped in style, dropping anchor at various points around Kefalonia.

But did you know that George and Charlotte were spotted snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of Kefalonia? According to sources, security staff conducted reconnaissance missions to Fiskardo village – often cited as Greece's prettiest village – but ultimately decided against a public appearance due to the large number of British tourists on the island.

The royals' Greek island getaway was anything but a fairy tale. With private jets, limousines, and yachts at their disposal, they opted for complete anonymity, shunning the spotlight in favor of an exclusive, behind-closed-doors experience.

The Lady Beatrice was the prized possession of Sir Frederick, right, and Sir David Barclay, left, (pictured in 2004), former owners of the Telegraph Media Group

And now, as we reflect on this royal mystery, one question remains: Did the Lionesses' surprise Euro 2022 final win force William to cut short his summer break? We'll never know – but what's clear is that even the most high-profile visitors can't escape the allure of Kefalonia's turquoise waters.

Sources

  • The scholarlynote.com exclusively
  • Kefaloniapress.gr article (translated and adapted for clarity)
  • Oakley Capital website

This year it was reported that Sir Frederick had sold Lady Beatrice for around £20million to British financier and entrepreneur Peter Dubens (pictured in 2017), to help repay debts across their corporate empire

The Barclay twins (pictured in 1999) treasured the 60m (197ft) yacht ¿ it is named after their late mother ¿ and decorated its interiors according to their eclectic tastes

There appears no obvious link between Mr Dubens and the royals. Two years ago, however, his firm, Oakley, was brought in as an investor by Thomas's Battersea, the school attended by Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Pictured: The Waleses on a royal tour of Belize in 2022

Oakley became a minority stakeholder in the family-owned business that runs the school. Pictured: The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte arriving at Wimbledon last month

Mr Dubens (pictured in 2005) made his name selling colour-changing T-shirts in the 1980s

In the days leading up to the royals' arrival, Lady Beatrice had been cruising the Ionian seas and on July 20 was in Kalamos, a tiny island north-east of Kefalonia (pictured, file photo of the main island of Kefalonia)

But at just after 9am on the day the royals arrived, the yacht mysteriously disappears from marine tracking systems, suggesting it had switched off its Automatic Identification System, a way of ensuring privacy. Pictured: The Waleses at a regatta in the Bahamas in 2022

'The children impressed with their politeness and patience during the procedures and inconveniences of the trip,' said the Kefalonia Press report. Pictured: The Waleses with their children George, Charlotte and Louis in September last year

It is understood that at one point yacht staff picked up some snorkelling equipment from Argostoli for George (left, with this family in September last year) who was 'fascinated by the seabed of Kefalonia'

Apparently, the royals had hoped to go ashore at some stage. Security staff went to Fiskardo (pictured, file photo) ¿ said to be the prettiest village in Greece ¿ at least three times on reconnaissance missions

'So the couple and their children preferred to stay on their floating refuge... for complete privacy', said the Kefalonia Press report. Pictured: William and Kate on a boat in Ibiza in 2006

It is understood the royals headed home on July 26. Pictured: William and Kate in the Bahamas

William and Charlotte subsequently flew to Switzerland to cheer on the Lionesses as they won the Euros final the following day (pictured)