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There are few things that I love more than hearing that Prince William and Duchess Kate have gone on yet another vacation. I actually have to give them some credit – they haven’t really gone on a proper holiday in MONTHS. Considering they spent nine years of their (off-and-on) courtship vacationing an average of 10 times a year, and considering how much “down time” and “vacation time” they’ve had already in their first year and a half of marriage, it is notable when they do NOT go on vacation for a while. They had a really busy summer, what with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee activities and with all of the Olympic and Paralympic events (they were goodwill ambassadors for the Games). So it makes sense that they figured out a way to slip in a quick vacation before they’re set to leave for their epic Asian tour of Epicness (which lasts eight whole days).
This is the romantic French hideaway where William and Kate have been soaking up the sunshine ahead of their forthcoming tour of South East Asia.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge escaped to the idyllic Chateau d’Autet, a historic hunting lodge nestled in Provence’s picturesque Luberon region.
Owned by the Queen’s nephew, Viscount Linley, the 19th century hunting lodge is set in 640 acres of woodland and boasts unspoilt views of fields carpeted with lavender.
The royal couple enjoyed total privacy at Viscount Linley’s holiday home, close to the medieval village of Viens, which is equipped with a heated swimming pool and a tennis court, the Sunday Express reported.
Prince William and his wife are due to fly to Singapore on Tuesday, before travelling on to Malaysia – where Kate is expected to make a speech – the Solomon Islands, and the island of Tuvalu in the Pacific.
The secluded Chateau d’Autet was purchased by Lord Linley and his wife Serena in 1999, after the couple were introduced to the area by Peter Mayle, the author of the bestselling A Year in Provence.
The couple dedicated themselves to lovingly restoring the sprawling chateau, which comprises four properties and can accommodate up to 17 guests.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will no doubt have appreciated the chance to unwind at the French beauty spot, following a whirlwind few weeks in London amid the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
That actually sounds like my kind of vacation – just hanging out in the country, getting some sleep, eating and maybe going for the occasional swim. Sometimes their vacations sound like so much work, what with all of the sports and skiing and such. Sometimes it feels like they’ve really made a stronger commitment to having lots of vacations than doing lots work, but… I don’t know. Maybe that’s changing. They got a lot of criticism earlier this year when it seemed like they were on holiday for about a month, and since then, it really has seemed like they were actively trying to look like they were putting in more public work. Still, I think it’s interesting how much time William gets off from his military work – not only is getting time off for his royal duties, but he also gets an extensive vacation package. It would be fascinating to see how many days a year he’s actually on base in Wales.
Photos courtesy of WENN.





















































































































































