12 Hotels That Have the British Royal Family’s Stamp of Approval
Often when researching luxury hotels online you may come across certain extravagant rooms with names like the “presidential” or “royal” suite, and while these may seem like the perfect fit for someone who is used to staying in posh accommodations, there’s nothing particularly notable about the guests who usually stay there. That is, of course, unless actual royalty books those rooms. And while members of the royal family are unlike us plebeians in a multitude of ways, they still sleep in hotels when traveling outside of their homes. So, while planning your next vacation, why not book a real royal suite, one in which actual royals have stayed? With that in mind, we’ve tracked down 12 luxury hotels around the globe, ranging from Antigua to Kenya, where members of the royal family have stayed over the years.
Photo: Courtesy of the Stafford London1/12The Stafford London
This classically British hotel in St. James, near London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, and Green Park, has been beloved by the royals for years. Today, the hotel is frequented by the Princess Royal’s daughter and Olympic equestrian HRH Zara Phillips. Originally built as private residences in the 17th century, No. 17 was owned by Lord and Lady Lyttelton (daughter of the then Earl Spencer, a prominent 18th-century British politician), who served as nanny to Queen Victoria’s children.
Photo: Courtesy of Tschuggen Grand2/12Tschuggen Grand (Arosa, Switzerland)
Prince Harry tagged along with his brother Prince William and Kate Middleton to the wedding of their mutual friend, English polo player Mark Tomlinson, in the Swiss Alps. The reception was held at Tschuggen Grand in Arosa, Switzerland, where the brothers dined on raclette, went skiing, and of course, partied with the bride and groom.
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Photo: Courtesy of the Cliveden House3/12Cliveden House (Berkshire, UK)
For more than 300 years, the Cliveden House has welcomed guests and made them feel like royalty, if but for a night—though they recently made one woman feel like a princess the day before she really became one. Meghan Markle stayed at the famed hotel west of London in the countryside the night before her wedding to Prince Harry. The estate was previously frequented by Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II, and the Queen Mother. In fact, you can still stay in the Spring Cottage, which includes special steps built so that Queen Victoria wouldn’t get her feet dirty walking to and from the nearby river Thames.
Photo: Courtesy of the Carton House Golf & Spa Resort4/12Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel (Kildare, Ireland)
Located just 25 minutes outside of Dublin, in the countryside of Kildare, Ireland, the Carton House resort was frequented by Queen Victoria, making it the perfect place for travelers seeking out a royal escape from city life. The Manor House includes Queen Victoria’s bedroom, kept in its original state, and the room once housed the four-post bed in which the queen slept. Everything about the room is extravagantly royal—gilt-wood and hand-drawn papyrus wallpaper was even specially commissioned from China for the walls.
Photo: Courtesy of the Goring Hotel5/12The Goring Hotel (London, UK)
Kate Middleton stayed at this iconic London hotel with her bridesmaids the night before her wedding. Fittingly, she stayed in the Royal Suite, which encompasses the entire top floor of the hotel. Kate’s room included her own private butler to iron clothing, make the tea, and even pop the champagne. It’s safe to assume Kate had plenty of room for her and her girls, with two en suite bedrooms separated by a living room space and a kitchen that seats six. The main bedroom also features an ornately carved four-post bed with a separate changing room.
Photo: Courtesy of Rutundu6/12Rutundu (inside Mount Kenya National Park, Kenya)
While on safari in Kenya, Prince William and Kate Middleton stayed at the Lewa Safari Camp inside the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. The camp, a collection of 12 tents, got them close to nature, but the prince had something more private in mind for what was to come. After traveling up over 10,000 feet to the remote Rutundu lodge, with spectacular views of Mount Kenya in the background, Prince William proposed to Kate.
Photo: Courtesy of Blue Waters7/12Blue Waters (St. John’s, Antigua)
During a trip to Antigua in November 2016, Prince Harry made the most of his time there by booking the penthouse suite at Blue Waters, one of the area’s most coveted all-inclusive resorts. With uninterrupted views of the Caribbean Sea, the 2,600-square-foot suite includes a massive private balcony, three bedrooms, a living area, a dining area, and a kitchen
Photo: Courtesy of the Round Hill Hotel8/12Round Hill Hotel (Montego Bay, Jamaica)
While attending a wedding for friends in Jamaica, Prince Harry, along with Meghan Markle, chose one of Round Hill’s classic villas. A long-standing favorite of Hollywood royalty, the retreats offer stunning coastal views of the island while offering total privacy. Best of all, perhaps, was that they didn’t even need to leave the villa to take a dip, as the villa comes equipped with four pools in total.
Photo: VW Pics/Getty Images9/12Raffles Singapore
During her final state visit to Singapore in 2006, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip stayed at the historic Raffles Hotel, occupying the Sir Stamford Raffles Suite. One of the hotel’s presidential suites, the accommodations are named for Sir Stamford Raffles, a 19th-century British statesman who was also the lieutenant-governor of British Java and Governor-General of Bencoolen. The expansive 2,798-square-foot suite is located in the hotel’s main building and overlooks the verdant Palm Court. Guests are treated to their own private veranda and Raffles butlers are available to assist during their stay.
Photo Dylan Cross/Dragonfly Image Partners / Courtesy of Spice Island Beach Resort10/12Spice Island Beach Resort (St. George’s, Grenada)
Many members of the royal family have visited Spice Island Beach Resort over the years, including the Princess Royal, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and Prince Harry. The most recent royal visitors were King Charles and Queen Camilla, who stayed there during their tour of the Caribbean in 2019. Set on Grand Anse beach, the resort features 64 villa-style suites, including several with private pools.
Courtesy of Hotel Adlon Kempinski11/12Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin
Located near the Brandenburg Gate, the historic Hotel Adlon Kempinski is a go-to for the royals when they spend time in Berlin. Queen Elizabeth II stayed at the hotel several times, including her state visit in 2015. The elegant Royal Suite, which features a signed photograph of the late Queen, is 1,991 square feet and features a piano, 24-hour butler, and a jewel-box study between the living room and bedroom. Most recently, King Charles and Queen Camilla stayed at the Hotel Adlon during his first state visit to Germany in March 2023.
Courtesy of Coworth Park12/12Coworth Park (Ascot, UK)
The night before his 2018 wedding to Meghan Markle, Prince Harry stayed at Coworth Park, an elegant Georgian manor house in Ascot. He’s not the first royal to check-in—in 1879, the future Edward VII and Queen Alexandra stayed there while attending the races nearby. Coworth Park is the only hotel in the UK with its own polo fields.
