UK & IRELAND ROYAL EXPERIENCES DESTINATIONS Monkey Island
Estate in Berkshire – owned by the Duke of Marlborough in the 1700s – opens as a hotel in spring
With the buzz mounting around the wedding of the year – Harry and Meghan will tie the knot at Windsor Castle in May, in case you’ve been asleep for the past few months – the world seems to have gone crazy for the British monarchy. But for those who won’t be on the guest list, we’ve got the next best thing – the ultimate round-up of the best royal-related experiences in the UK. Always wanted to learn polo in
Windsor? There’s no time like the present. Want to climb aboard the Queen’s former yacht? Be our guest.
be celebrating this year – his gran will have reason to raise a glass too, as she rings in her 65th anniversary since the coronation. Shearings has organised a range of royal-themed tours to mark the occasion, including an eight-day jaunt in Scotland exploring Royal Deeside, where the family spends its summers. Visitors will be able to check out the grounds, gardens and exhibitions of their historic holiday home, Balmoral Castle, before moving on to Tomintoul, the highest village in the Highlands, and taking a trip on the heritage- rich Strathspey Railway. Beyond that there’s plenty to
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explore with cycling, walking, wildlife-watching and more, all among glorious scenery – think
VISIT BALMORAL CASTLE AND ROYAL DEESIDE It’s not just Harry who’ll
moors, rivers, crags, forests and the sweeping Grampian Mountains. There’s a reason this place is such a hit with the Queen and co. Book it: Shearings’ eight-day Braemar and Royal Deeside trip starts at £444 including coach travel, seven nights’ accommodation and excursions.
shearingsagent.com
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TAKE A TRAIN TO CHATSWORTH HOUSE Experiencing life on board a Belmond British
Pullman train is regal enough with its exceptional food and heritage-rich, art deco carriages. Combine it with a visit to Chatsworth House, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and set among acres of rolling green countryside, and you have the ultimate royal-themed break. Passengers will enjoy a three-
course brunch served by liveried stewards as they whirl past film-set scenes before reaching Chatsworth and ending the day with a five-course, wine-paired dinner back on board. Worth recommending to those looking for something extra special. Book it: The Belmond journey to Chatsworth House, departing London Victoria on April 18, starts at £441 per person including round-trip travel, a bellini welcome, brunch, champagne reception, dinner with half a bottle of wine and entry to Chatsworth House (with coach transfers).
belmond.com
thing for it – Clarence House at St James’s Palace, one of the last remaining aristocratic townhouses in London. First occupied by William IV, then the Duke of Clarence, it boasts an impressive art collection with rooms arranged much as they were when the Queen Mother occupied it. Today visitors can tour its five
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ground-floor rooms, where their royal highnesses undertake official engagements, and combine it with afternoon tea and a stay at the four-star Cavendish Hotel on a package with Super Break. Book it: A two-night package including a guided tour of Clarence House and B&B accommodation starts at £235, including afternoon tea.
superbreak.com/agents
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EXPLORE THE NORFOLK BROADS Norfolk is a firm favourite with the royals, where the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are said to do their Christmas shopping and where the family spends the festive period. It’s at Sandringham House
that the action takes place – and where the Queen gave her first televised Christmas message in 1957. Meghan Markle spent her first Christmas here in December, but you needn’t marry into the family to get your own sneak peek, with tours taking visitors around its rooms, museum,
EXPLORE CLARENCE HOUSE For Charles and Camilla fans, there’s only one
gardens and church from March to October (bar a few days in July). For clients wanting to combine it with other scenic stops on a heritage-filled getaway, suggest Great Rail Journeys’ Norwich & the Norfolk Broads trip, which pairs it with a cruise on the Norfolk Broads, rides on nostalgic steam trains and various other visits fit for a king – or queen, as the case may be. Book it: The Norwich and the Norfolk Broads Waterways tour costs from £575 for five days, including four-star half-board accommodation, heritage rail excursions and travel in standard class.
greatrail.com
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FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PRINCESS DIANA Whether you’re an avid
royalist or just an admirer of splendid architecture, Kensington Palace, home to Prince William and formerly Princess Diana, needs to be on your list. Ornate interiors, a rich history and the lavish Queen’s Apartments make it a must, and this year there’s another reason to visit thanks to the Diana: Her Fashion Story exhibition, which traces the evolution of the icon’s style with various items from her wardrobe. Newmarket Holidays will
combine a tour round the home with a trip to Windsor, where clients will have time to explore the historic streets and visit the castle that will play host to the big event in May.
8 March 2018
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FAST FACT Monkey Island Estate in Berkshire – owned by the Duke of Marlborough in the 1700s – opens as a hotel in spring
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