A retired civil servant and self-declared royal enthusiast claims to have seen the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children aboard a £40 million superyacht off the enchanting Greek island of Ithaca.
The woman, Penelope Likoudi, 64, says she spotted Princess Kate along with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis standing on the upper deck of the sleek, 50-metre yacht Almax, which was moored near the secluded Mavrouna Bay.
“I literally shivered with excitement,” said Likoudi, who swears by what she saw during her daily morning swim. “Kate was wearing a dark wraparound dress. Charlotte and Louis were next to her, along with an older lady who could have been Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton.”
Her sighting came amid a whirlwind of speculation in the Ionian Islands, where locals have been buzzing over unconfirmed reports that Prince William, Kate, and their children were vacationing in the area since mid-July. Reports suggested the family arrived via private Lear jet to Kefalonia on July 16 and then boarded a luxury yacht to explore the azure waters of the region.
While official sources have remained silent, the buzz has spread like wildfire, fueled by local hearsay, photos of superyachts near popular destinations like Argostoli and Agia Efimia, and viral claims on social media. Some locals even claimed the royals were guests aboard Opera, a £340 million mega-yacht belonging to UAE royalty. Others pointed to Norn, owned by Microsoft billionaire Charles Simonyi.
But maritime records support Likoudi’s version. The Almax, known as one of the world’s first hydrogen fuel-cell superyachts and a beacon of sustainable luxury, was indeed anchored in Kioni near Mavrouna Bay on the day she claims to have seen the royals. It later returned to Argostoli before setting out again.
Likoudi, who previously worked in the Greek defence ministry and is known locally as a respected property owner and loyal royalist, said she has long admired the British royal family. She once visited Buckingham Palace and Balmoral, and “cried for days” following Princess Diana’s death.
“She’s a serious woman, not one to chase fantasies,” said a local friend.
Though no photos of the royals have emerged, Likoudi did manage to snap images of the yacht from the cliffs above after swimming ashore. She believes the family appreciated the peaceful beauty of Ithaca, a place once visited by Diana with young William and Harry in 1995.
“They were probably just enjoying the stunning view and the calm. Kate has been unwell, and I hope this holiday brought her some peace,” she added. “I just wish I had waved.”
While Kensington Palace declined to comment, it’s understood that Prince William and Princess Charlotte were back in Europe by Sunday, where they were seen cheering on the Lionesses during the Euros final in Switzerland.