Prince William and his new wife Kate Middleton are to seek some privacy and seclusion on a honeymoon in the sun after their wedding was watched by an estimated two billion people.
The newly-wed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are due to set off on their honeymoon to a mystery location on Saturday after the splendour and pageantry of the Royal wedding.
Prince William has taken a fortnights leave from his job as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot for the holiday with his new wife Kate Middleton.
The couple's destination has been a closely guarded secret but Royal sources have said the pair were aiming to relax somewhere "hot and sunny".
Among the destinations believed to be favoured by the Duke and Duchess is Jordan, where the couple will take in some of the country's most famous sites, including the ancient city of Petra and the Wadi Rum desert valley.
The couple were understood to be considering several options for their honeymoon break, but the Middle-Eastern country was their preferred foreign destination.
Jordan would have great nostalgic appeal for Kate as her family spent two years there when she was a child.
There were reports that the couple have booked a tailor made private tour of southern Jordan, including a visit to the ancient city of Petra.
The 'rose-red city half as old as time’ was carved out of a deep sandstone cleft in the desert 26 centuries ago by the Nabateans, an Aramaic people.
Spread over seven miles it is Jordan’s star attraction, approached through a half mile-long entrance gully, and renowned for its amazingly preserved tombs.
They are also expected to take part in a riding excursions to Wadi Rum, where it is thought they will stay in a luxury tented camp.
Several travel companies offer honeymooning couples private trips “in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia” across the region, which is where army officer T E Lawrence led the Bedouin revolt against the Ottomans in 1917 which was immortalised in the classic film.
Desert Guides Company, which specialises in tailor-made holidays to Jordan, provides luxury five-star tented accommodation on tours of the Wadi Rum, including candlelit tents and five-star hotel accommodation in Petra.
There was also speculation that the couple may spend part of their break at one of the Royal estates, such as Balmoral, the Queen's estate in Scotland.
The Duke is known to have a deep affection for Africa and Kenya has a symbolic meaning to the couple as it is where the Prince proposed to his wife last year.
After conducting their nuptials under the intense glare of the world's media and the public, the couple may also seek to escape prying eyes on a secluded Caribbean island.
Bequia and Necker Island all have the benefit of being easily secured, as does the ultra-exclusive Mustique, where the Duchess's parents Carole and Michael Middleton are frequent visitors.
Lizard Island, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, has also emerged as a contender.
However, with the Duke resuming his pilot duties in two weeks, the significant jet lag likely from such a far-flung trip could rule it out.
They may also be tempted by Chile, as they both spent time in the South American country during their gap years before university.
A Royal aide said they would not be revealing the destination.
He said: "The most important thing is that they want some privacy. We know there is an army of photographers out there waiting to find out where they are going.
"If it was your own honeymoon you would want some privacy."
Thirty years ago, the Duke's parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, spent the first stage of their honeymoon in Romsey in Hampshire, where they stayed at Broadlands, the family home of the Mountbattens.
The second part of their holiday was spent on board the royal yacht Britannia. They boarded at the Rock of Gibraltar before cruising to Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, the Greek islands and Egypt.
Finally, they went to Scotland to spend time with the Royal Family in Balmoral.
On Friday night the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were joined by 300 close family and friends to celebrate their marriage until the early hours of Saturday morning at Buckingham Palace.
Guests at the party included the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and even the Duke's uncle Earl Spencer was said to have been there for part of the event.
Kate changed for the evening dinner and dance from her stunning wedding gown by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen into another stylish dress by the same designer.
The royal looked glamorous in a strapless white satin gazar evening gown with a circle skirt and diamante embroidered detail round the waist. She also wore a white angora bolero cardigan.
Earlier, the Duchess said of the wedding: "I am glad the weather held off. We had a great day."
In an unexpected move that delighted the crowds the couple drove between Buckingham Palace and Clarence House in the Prince of Wales's blue Aston Martin with the prince at the wheel.
The sports car was decorated with red, white and blue ribbons, with balloons tied to the back and a rear number plate which read "JU5T WED", all thanks to best man Prince Harry and other family and friends.
There were reports that the couple have booked a tailor made private tour of southern Jordan, including a visit to the ancient city of Petra.
The 'rose-red city half as old as time’ was carved out of a deep sandstone cleft in the desert 26 centuries ago by the Nabateans, an Aramaic people.
Spread over seven miles it is Jordan’s star attraction, approached through a half mile-long entrance gully, and renowned for its amazingly preserved tombs.
They are also expected to take part in a riding excursions to Wadi Rum, where it is thought they will stay in a luxury tented camp.
Several travel companies offer honeymooning couples private trips “in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia” across the region, which is where army officer T E Lawrence led the Bedouin revolt against the Ottomans in 1917 which was immortalised in the classic film.
Desert Guides Company, which specialises in tailor-made holidays to Jordan, provides luxury five-star tented accommodation on tours of the Wadi Rum, including candlelit tents and five-star hotel accommodation in Petra.
There was also speculation that the couple may spend part of their break at one of the Royal estates, such as Balmoral, the Queen's estate in Scotland.
The Duke is known to have a deep affection for Africa and Kenya has a symbolic meaning to the couple as it is where the Prince proposed to his wife last year.
After conducting their nuptials under the intense glare of the world's media and the public, the couple may also seek to escape prying eyes on a secluded Caribbean island.
Bequia and Necker Island all have the benefit of being easily secured, as does the ultra-exclusive Mustique, where the Duchess's parents Carole and Michael Middleton are frequent visitors.
Lizard Island, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, has also emerged as a contender.
However, with the Duke resuming his pilot duties in two weeks, the significant jet lag likely from such a far-flung trip could rule it out.
They may also be tempted by Chile, as they both spent time in the South American country during their gap years before university.
A Royal aide said they would not be revealing the destination.
He said: "The most important thing is that they want some privacy. We know there is an army of photographers out there waiting to find out where they are going.
"If it was your own honeymoon you would want some privacy."
Thirty years ago, the Duke's parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, spent the first stage of their honeymoon in Romsey in Hampshire, where they stayed at Broadlands, the family home of the Mountbattens.
The second part of their holiday was spent on board the royal yacht Britannia. They boarded at the Rock of Gibraltar before cruising to Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, the Greek islands and Egypt.
Finally, they went to Scotland to spend time with the Royal Family in Balmoral.
On Friday night the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were joined by 300 close family and friends to celebrate their marriage until the early hours of Saturday morning at Buckingham Palace.
Guests at the party included the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and even the Duke's uncle Earl Spencer was said to have been there for part of the event.
Kate changed for the evening dinner and dance from her stunning wedding gown by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen into another stylish dress by the same designer.
The royal looked glamorous in a strapless white satin gazar evening gown with a circle skirt and diamante embroidered detail round the waist. She also wore a white angora bolero cardigan.
Earlier, the Duchess said of the wedding: "I am glad the weather held off. We had a great day."
In an unexpected move that delighted the crowds the couple drove between Buckingham Palace and Clarence House in the Prince of Wales's blue Aston Martin with the prince at the wheel.
The sports car was decorated with red, white and blue ribbons, with balloons tied to the back and a rear number plate which read "JU5T WED", all thanks to best man Prince Harry and other family and friends.
