Nobu cuisine, $600 robes, increased security, and plenty of rum punch were among the highlights of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s lavish visit in the Bahamas.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were treated like royalty during their two-night stay at The Cove at Atlantis Paradise Island, the final destination on their divisive Caribbean tour.
“They were incredibly nice to the resort workers, and they smiled at every tourist they passed.” “It looked like they had a good time,” a source told Page Six, adding that the couple had a hectic schedule but appeared “happy” and “relaxed” when they returned to the hotel.
Middleton, 40, and William, 39, stayed in the ritzy resort’s three-bedroom, 4,830 square-foot penthouse suite, which has wrap-around ocean views and a private pool.
We’re told the duo participated in some outdoor activities, with the source sharing that at one point they “came back from sailing in the rain” and “were drenched and returned to the resort laughing.”
Middleton was also overheard discussing how she showed their children, Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 6, and Prince Louis, 3, the beach views from their suite over FaceTime.
At terms of gastronomy, the duke and duchess dined in their penthouse multiple times, including an afternoon tea served on beautiful china. A chocolate biscuit cake made with ladyfinger biscuits, little lemon meringue pies, raspberry pastries, and freshly baked scones with jam and cream were served.
They stayed in the penthouse during their two-night stay.
“Two nights in a row, they ordered rum punch,” the insider said. “On their first night together, the duke requested pepperoni pizza….” They chose Nobu, one of the resort’s restaurants, for their second night.”
Sushi, sashimi, and grilled salmon with teriyaki sauce served on a bed of noodles were among the dishes they ordered.
“Mango smoothies for breakfast proved to be a success,” the source continues.
The pair enjoyed spanning views of the tropical grounds.
The royal couple reportedly did not make any specific requests and kept their visit “low-key,” but the hotel decorated the room with flowers and gifts, including NiLuu bathrobes (which retail for $585), Sugarfina snacks, and handmade gifts from local Bahamian artists. The hotel also made arrangements for Middleton’s reported favorite drink, The Crack Baby, as well as William’s favorite beer, Stella Artois, to be available.
In order to ensure the royal couple’s safety, the resort “beefed up security” and collaborated with the royal security team to ensure everything went smoothly.
William and Middleton stayed at the hotel from March 24 to 26 during the last leg of their royal Caribbean tour in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
But things turned controversial when the pair were forced to cancel a scheduled visit to a cocoa plantation in Belize after locals protested their arrival by helicopter in the middle of a village.
They were slammed even harder by Jamaican lawmaker Lisa Hanna, who chastised the prince for criticizing past slavery in the Caribbean but failing to take concrete steps toward “reparations and justice.”
“All we seek is reciprocity by taking our activism seriously, so that together we can rectify historical wrongs and reset the political, economic, and social system for future generations,” Hanna, 46, wrote in a Guardian op-ed last week.
Hanna’s criticism came after she met the pair and was accused of giving Middleton the cold shoulder, though she denied the accusation.
“I have nothing but respect for Catherine as a person, and I treated her with that respect and cordiality, as evidenced by many other photos and videos of our interaction,” she said.
William announced the Caribbean tour was an “opportunity to reflect,” saying in a statement, “I know that this tour has brought into even sharper focus questions about the past and the future. In Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas, that future is for the people to decide upon.”
The duke and duchess embarked on their tour of Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas in an effort to prevent Caribbean Commonwealth countries from following the example of Barbados, which voted to sever its ties to the British monarchy in 2020.