Dan Kitwood/Getty ImagesA royal's life can be tough work. So before Prince William and Kate Middleton get down to the business of a globetrotting holiday, they decided to treat themselves to...um, a globetrotting holiday.
But a work-free one.
While the duke and duchess are set to embark tomorrow on their Diamond Jubilee trek to the South Pacific, they decided a little R&R was in order beforehand, and have spent the past few days cozied up away from the cameras set to chronicle their every move in an idyllic retreat in the south of France.
The duo spent the weekend in France's Provence region, at the Chateau d'Autet in Luberon, a secluded, picturesque woodland-surrounded hunting lodge owned by the queen's nephew Viscount Linley.
And the couple certainly had plenty to get up to, as the grounds feature a heated swimming pool, tennis court, lavender gardens, a boulodrome (this is France, after all) and sprawling views of the countryside. French papers even captured the 30-year-olds (who reportedly arrived last Tuesday) soaking up the sunshine on their private (well, maybe not so private after all) balcony, with Kate wearing a blue bikini and Wills rocking matching trunks while reading a book.
Hope they enjoyed the quiet time, because the next couple of weeks are going to be a whirlwind of activity for the young royals, who are set to arrive in Singapore for the start of the high-profile trip tomorrow. Though there's apparently another light at the end of the tunnel as the duo are expected to go on a second belated honeymoon at the end of their trip in the Solomon Islands' private island of Tavanipupu.
Tough life, but someone's gotta do it.