The Duke of Sussex is understood to have taken Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to a secluded Scottish island owned by billionaire hedge fund manager Ian Wace - despite not yet taking his children to Balmoral, the Royal Family’s private Scottish estate he once described as 'simply paradise'.
The Express understands Harry, Meghan and their children stayed earlier this month on Tanera Mor, a private island in the Summer Isles off the west coast of Scotland.
Island's history and transformation
The 800-acre island is said to have provided inspiration for the cult 1973 film The Wicker Man, starring Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee and Britt Ekland. Harry is believed to have visited Tanera Mor before. The island was purchased in 2017 for £1.7 million by Wace, co-founder of hedge fund firm Marshall Wace.
When Wace, 63, bought the island, it had a population of just five people, alongside numerous crofters’ cottages in various states of disrepair. Since then, the billionaire has invested around £100 million transforming the island, planting 100,000 trees, restoring 12 properties and building three miles of roads. He has also helped revive traditional activities including beekeeping.
Charitable connection
One aspect of the island that may have appealed to Harry is its connection with the Taigh Mor Foundation, a charity supporting the wellbeing of people working in the armed forces and emergency services. By last year, more than half of the 1,000 guests hosted on Tanera had been connected with the foundation.
Visitors supported by the charity take part in activities including restoring buildings, harvesting seaweed, fishing for mackerel and working in the kitchens and gardens, reports the Daily Mail.
Family links and UK trip
Wace, a well-known philanthropist, has had links with Harry and Prince William for years. His former wife, ex-model Saffron Aldridge, is also understood to have developed a friendship with Meghan after the Duchess moved to Britain to live with Harry. In 2019, the year after Meghan married Prince Harry, Saffron and Wace joined the couple at a Cirque du Soleil performance at the Royal Albert Hall. Reports at the time said Meghan valued Saffron’s reputation as a 'straight talker', while their shared interest in fashion helped strengthen their friendship. Wace and Saffron separated in 2023 and have since divorced, although they are understood to remain friends.
The Sussexes are believed to have travelled to Scotland from Northamptonshire, where they stayed with Earl and Countess Spencer at Althorp, the Spencer family’s ancestral home. During their visit, they laid flowers at the grave of Harry’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. The family’s UK trip also included tea with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire.
A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: 'This is not something we would comment on.' A spokesman for Wace also declined to comment.
