The Prince and Princess of Wales are understood to have an open invitation to spend family holidays at a spectacular seaside palace owned by Jordan’s King Abdullah II. However, during this October half-term, William and Kate have reportedly chosen to stay in Britain as Prince George enjoys his first school break from Eton.
The Wales family have previously holidayed at the exclusive Red Sea retreat. Yet with conflict continuing to escalate across the Middle East, a return to Jordan appears not to have been considered this year.
A source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Around this time of year, there is always speculation in Jordan that the Prince and Princess of Wales may come to stay. They are regarded as regular visitors.
‘But it would be difficult for them to enjoy water sports and jet skiing while there is a threat from Houthi or Iranian missiles. It cannot be a coincidence that an autumn visit to Jordan was apparently not on their plans this year.’
King Abdullah, 64, was educated in Surrey, Oxford and Sandhurst and is known for welcoming some of the world’s most prominent figures to his holiday palace. The property has been expanded over the past six years and can now accommodate about 15 guest families in extraordinary comfort.
While guests unwind, Royal Jordanian Navy gunboats patrol the waters off the secluded beach, and elite military personnel help secure the vast compound.
William and Kate are believed to have enjoyed lavish visits as guests of King Abdullah and Queen Rania. On at least one occasion, they are thought to have travelled with George, 13, Charlotte, 11, and eight-year-old Louis, along with Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton.
William and Kate pose with George, Charlotte and Louis for their 2021 Christmas card, photographed in Jordan
King Abdullah II and Queen Rania are known for welcoming high-profile guests to their holiday palace
The sprawling estate includes roughly 15 luxury villas, along with gyms and facilities for watersports. Its scale and amenities have led some to describe it as a five-star resort rather than a conventional royal residence.
According to a source, the palace functions as a private first-class Club Med for royalty, offering almost every imaginable indulgence. Guests can scuba dive — one of William’s favourite activities — as well as waterski, jet-ski and fish before joining the King for lavish barbecues.
The setting is reportedly informal and relaxed. Visiting royals use their own golf buggies to move around the enormous grounds, enjoying a level of privacy rarely available during their public lives. One source said: ‘I imagine William and Kate are extremely disappointed not to be going this year.’
A nearby yacht club adds to the appeal, while King Abdullah’s car museum houses vintage Aston Martins, Ferraris, McLarens and motorcycles. William is said to have ridden some of the monarch’s prized bikes during previous visits.
A source said: ‘The King takes great pleasure in offering exceptional hospitality to interesting people he wants to know better, or in giving families such as the Waleses — whom he already knows and likes — the chance to enjoy valuable time together.’
The British and Jordanian royal families have maintained close ties for decades. King Abdullah’s father, King Hussein, came to the throne in 1952, the same year Queen Elizabeth II became monarch. King Charles has visited Jordan regularly, while Prince William is understood to be friends with Abdullah’s son, Crown Prince Hussein, who also trained at Sandhurst. The two men have reportedly watched an England football match together.
Kate also has a longstanding personal connection to Jordan.
She spent almost three years of her childhood in the country after her father, Michael Middleton, was posted to Amman while working for British Airways. Kate attended nursery school in the capital and has retained a deep affection for Jordan ever since.
Growing tensions between Jordan and Iran have added to concerns amid the wider Middle East conflict
During an official visit to Jordan in 2018, William was shown a photograph of his future wife visiting the ancient ruins of Jerash as a young girl with her father and sister, Pippa. He later posed at the same location, joking that Kate would be disappointed to have missed the trip.
It is therefore perhaps unsurprising that Michael and Carole have joined the Wales family at the retreat in the past. They are believed to receive concessionary travel through BA, although they are thought to have flown in standard class rather than business or first class.
The journey may begin on a commercial aircraft, but the experience reportedly changes dramatically after landing in Amman. Royal guests can be transported to the Red Sea resort aboard one of King Abdullah’s luxurious military helicopters.
The King is an enthusiastic pilot and occasionally flies the aircraft himself. Crown Prince Hussein, like his friend William, is also a trained helicopter pilot.
What began as a modest seaside residence has grown into an extraordinary holiday complex. The guest villas are understatedly known as ‘chalets’, although their scale is closer to that of miniature palaces.
King Abdullah is so passionate about scuba diving that visitors are encouraged to accompany him on near-daily excursions to explore the area’s striking underwater landscapes. Catherine is said to particularly enjoy waterskiing and jet-skiing.
Guests can also venture into the dramatic nearby desert, with some excursions including an overnight stay or two away from the coast.
Travel by helicopter or four-wheel-drive vehicle offers visitors the opportunity to take in some of Jordan’s most spectacular scenery.
In the evenings, King Abdullah reportedly hosts outdoor barbecues and often takes responsibility for the grill himself. The tradition recalls the late Duke of Edinburgh, who was famously happiest cooking outdoors for his family. The 1969 documentary Royal Family captured Prince Philip preparing a barbecue at Balmoral Castle.
Despite the resort’s exceptional luxury, the atmosphere is said to remain notably casual. Guests can drive around the expansive grounds in golf buggies, visit one another and enjoy an informal family atmosphere rarely possible for royals elsewhere.
King Abdullah has also welcomed Hollywood actors, business leaders and other influential guests to the retreat. The source said visitors have included Keanu Reeves, Jason Momoa, Timothee Chalamet and Oscar Isaac, along with television presenter Richard Hammond. Cast members from the Dune and Star Wars films are also said to have enjoyed the King’s hospitality during breaks from filming in the desert.
The Wales family’s affection for Jordan was evident in their 2021 Christmas card, which showed William and Kate with George, Charlotte and Louis during a visit to the country.
The image captured the family in casual summer clothing against a rugged, rocky desert landscape.
William and Kate later returned to Jordan in June 2023 to attend the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif. They joined members of royal families from around the world for the lavish celebrations in Amman.
However, the palace’s location has become a growing security concern as instability spreads across the region. The source believes the increased risk from missiles and drones in the wider Middle East made a family holiday there too hazardous to pursue this year.
The Princess recently spoke about looking forward to spending the October half-term break with George, Charlotte and Louis.
Kate has consistently highlighted the importance of family life, making clear that raising her three children remains her central priority.
William and Kate are understood to plan royal engagements around the children’s school holidays whenever possible, allowing them to spend as much time together as their duties permit.
The couple have also taken family holidays on Mustique, the exclusive Caribbean island in St Vincent and the Grenadines that has long been a favourite of the Middletons.
William and Kate brought their children to the island in 2019, when Prince George celebrated his sixth birthday. They returned last year during the February half-term break.
Kensington Palace declined to comment last night.
