The Duke and Duchess of Sussex enjoyed a boat trip on a vessel powered by a U-boat engine during their Scottish island holiday. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to the private island of Tanera Mòr during their week-long stay in Britain last month.
Island Owned by Hedge-Fund Magnate
Part of the Summer Isles, the island is owned by hedge-fund magnate Ian Wace, 63, who purchased it for £1.7 million nine years ago and has since invested £100 million in converting the 800-acre island into an exclusive holiday destination.
Among the developments is the refurbishment of a classic tug boat, reimagined as a leisure vessel and rechristened 'Rita'. While some accounts identify her as a Clyde Puffer, Rita was actually constructed in Germany in 1965 and initially named 'Kapitän Engler'.
Refurbishment Reveals U-Boat Engine
The refurbishment was undertaken by Calshot in Hampshire, who revealed during the work: "The company that had built this tug had [used] second-hand parts, including the mighty 22-ton analogue engine originally built for a U-boat during the war."
"The team did a remarkable job to ensure the 1930s technology was capable of running reliably at full capacity for the next three quarters of a century. The engines, arguably the beating heart of any ship, now run as smoothly as the day they were made. The fact that, on testing, her engine started first time is testament to their skill."
"Her exterior has been adapted to offer the maximum comfort for her passengers and crew, yet protect her heritage as a tug. The interior is exquisite and feels comfortable and welcoming, with walls wrapped in warm tongue-and-groove panelling and seats covered in rich red leather, all carefully finished by hand."
Potential Embarrassment for Harry
It remains unclear whether the Sussexes were informed about the U-boat engine, though had Harry been told, he may well have turned red – he notoriously wore a Nazi costume to a fancy dress party in 2005.
His grandfather, Prince Philip, served with great distinction in the Mediterranean and Pacific fleets of the Royal Navy throughout the Second World War, navigating the threat of U-boats aboard HMS Valiant and later HMS Wallace. He was Mentioned in Dispatches for his vigilance and courage during the Battle of Cape Matapan in 1941, and saved his vessel during the Allied invasion of Sicily by deploying a burning raft to divert German bombers.
U-Boat History
U-boats – an abbreviation of Unterseeboot – were responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of civilian and military personnel across both world wars. Remarkably, however, approximately 70% to 75% of all active German submariners perished between 1939-1945. This perilous and deadly game of cat and mouse was immortalised in the 1981 German film Das Boot, which inspired a 2018 television revamp for Sky One.
Highland Journey and Local Reactions
Meanwhile, it also appears that the Sussexes made their way to Tanera Mòr via a journey through the Highlands. A post on Meghan's Instagram reveals the view from the A835 Inverness to Ullapool road, overlooking Loch Droma.
One local resident in Achiltibuie, the nearest mainland village to the island on the Coigach peninsula, told The Mail on Sunday: "We all know when somebody important is coming over because the workers are all told to go away for a few days, while [Mr Wace] has guests who want privacy. There've been rumours Harry has been there in the past, and William has been there."
A second resident remarked: "I've heard Harry and Meghan were on the mainland side, as well as on the island. There are electric bikes over there for guests to use and sometimes people staying there bring them on to the mainland. They didn't get there from Achiltibuie, so must have gone the other way from Ullapool on the fast boat."
"There's a lot of work that's happened since [Mr Wace] bought it – he's worked on all the old buildings to renovate them. He will have improved the roads as well. By all accounts it's very high-end accommodation. He's spent a fortune."
Mr Wace and his former wife, the model Saffron Aldridge, 58, have enjoyed a longstanding friendship with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, joining them at a performance of Cirque du Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall in 2019. Mr Wace has equally maintained a close relationship with Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton.
