Most people enjoy a royal mystery, and none more so than the people of Kefalonia.
Nothing much gets past the enchanted island’s wily inhabitants but even the most razor-sharp were left in the dark about aspects of William and Kate’s recent holiday.
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, only setting foot on land when arriving and departing.
Sightings were fleeting – if that – and difficult to verify.
Even so, it didn’t stop Kefalonians describing their vacation last month in rapturous terms, with some whimsical souls calling it little short of a ‘fairy story’.
The big question, though, was whose yacht were the royals on?
Keeping tabs on these floating palaces is something of a parlour game among the islanders.
Ask anyone and they’re likely to know the owners of the boats cruising their turquoise waters at any given time. Or they’ll be actively trying to find out.
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)
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)
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
In recent weeks they’ve seen basketball star Michael Jordan’s. And they can spot Bill Gates’s yacht a mile off. William and Kate, though, proved much trickier to pin down.
In fact, as The Mail on Sunday reveals exclusively today, only now does it appear that the mystery has been finally solved.
First, though, a recap. Initially, it was reported that the Prince and Princess were sailing around Kefalonia and other Ionian islands in a £340million megayacht owned by a prominent member of the UAE royal family.
The Mail on Sunday established that this was false. Other possibilities included 90m (295ft) Norn – which is owned by Microsoft mogul Charles Simonyi. Again, this proved unlikely.
Then a retired civil servant, Penelope Likoudi, said that she had seen Kate and on board the Almax.
Her account appeared credible, especially when it turned out that the £40million Almax is one of the world’s first fuel-cell superyachts and is described as a ‘huge milestone in the future of sustainable boating’ – something that would appeal to the eco-conscious Prince.
However, the Almax then turned up three days later in Kefalonia’s main town, Argostoli, with a different party on board.
So had the royals got off elsewhere? Or was Penelope mistaken about the boat they were on?
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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)
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
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
Now, citing impeccable sources, Kefalonia Press, a well-regarded news website, says it has confirmed that William and co were on a different boat: Lady Beatrice.
The Lady Beatrice was the prized possession of Sir Frederick and Sir David Barclay, former owners of the Telegraph Media Group.
The Barclay twins treasured the 60m (197ft) yacht – it is named after their late mother – and decorated its interiors according to their eclectic tastes, with pin-striped sofa seating, faux Greek columns, and a Renaissance-style fresco ceiling in the formal dining area.
It has suites capable of accommodating 16 passengers, with dining areas on the main and lower decks, and a pool on its top deck.
This year it was reported that Sir Frederick had sold Lady Beatrice for around £20million to British financier and entrepreneur Peter Dubens, to help repay debts across their corporate empire.
If the new owner’s name sounds unfamiliar it is hardly surprising.
Though super rich, Mr Dubens, 58, keeps a low profile. The founder of private equity firm Oakley Capital and chairman of Time Out Group, the magazine publisher, he bought Lady Beatrice through a company based in Bermuda.
He started out as a chauffeur for Joe Lewis, the billionaire former owner of Tottenham Hotspur who was spared jail in the US last year after admitting insider trading.
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
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.
Oakley became a minority stakeholder in the family-owned business that runs the school.
Some liken private equity firms to vultures picking the bones of dying companies.
When this was put to Mr Dubens in a rare interview some years ago, he replied: ‘Vulture is an awful word. We prefer to say we are helping companies in difficulty.’
Mr Dubens made his name selling colour-changing T-shirts in the 1980s. Within five years, he sold the business for £8million and went on to launch a string of successful ventures, steadily adding to his fortune along the way.
By the early 2000s, Dubens had made hundreds of millions of pounds, not just for himself, but for his backers and investors.
Two months ago, Mr Dubens made headlines when his plans for a luxury bunker under his £10million Chelsea town house sparked fears of floods and gridlock.
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
He wants to build a 7760 sq ft underground personal leisure and entertainment complex inside, taking up almost half of the area under his garden.
But the plans have caused an outcry with one neighbour calling them ‘one man’s appalling vanity project’ and the ‘epitome of opulence and arrogance’.
Opulence is also a word applied to the Lady Beatrice. A yachting website called it ‘a testament to opulence, offering a visually striking environment that exudes comfort and sophistication’.
In 2022, Hiroko Barclay, the wife of Sir Frederick, revealed details of life on board during her bitter divorce proceedings.
She revealed that the brothers brawled on the yacht over the future of their empire, which included London’s Ritz hotel.
‘They were punching each other,’ Hiroko said of the twins. Sir David died in 2021.
It is now understood that the royal party, which also included Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton and four other ‘relatives’, flew into Kefalonia by private jet on July 21 – a few days later than previously thought.
In the days leading up to their arrival, Lady Beatrice had been cruising the Ionian seas and on July 20 was in Kalamos, a tiny island north-east of Kefalonia.
‘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’
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.
According to Kefalonia Press, the royals were taken by limousine to Agia Pelagia, a small marina near the village of Svoronata, five minutes south of the airport.
‘The children impressed with their politeness and patience during the procedures and inconveniences of the trip,’ said the report.
They were then taken by tender boat to the yacht and spent the next few days anchored at various points around the island.
It is understood that at one point yacht staff picked up some snorkelling equipment from Argostoli for George who was ‘fascinated by the seabed of Kefalonia’.
The Kefalonia Press report added: ‘Diving was apparently not part of the family’s holiday plans and found George unprepared.’
Apparently, the royals had hoped to go ashore at some stage. Security staff went to Fiskardo – said to be the prettiest village in Greece – at least three times on reconnaissance missions.
‘But the number of British tourists made it clear that a public appearance would upset the children,’ said the report.
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)
‘So the couple and their children preferred to stay on their floating refuge… for complete privacy.’
The village – and the entire island – have soared in popularity with British tourists since the publication of the literary sensation Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, which was set on the island. The star-studded Hollywood adaptation was also filmed there.
It is understood the royals headed home on July 26, with William and Charlotte subsequently flying to Switzerland on Sunday to cheer on the Lionesses as they won the Euros final the following day.
One mystery remains. It seems unusual to spend just a few days in the Greek islands – so did the Lionesses surprise William by getting to the final, forcing him to cut short the break? We’ll never know.
