Being a working member of the royal family means many things, but included in that list is one thing for sure as part of their duties: lots of royal engagements. That usually means travel is a frequent part of the job — sometimes including plenty of stuffy meetings in offices and old buildings. But other times, those engagements seem to be a lot of fun, and occasionally, they even send these royals straight to the beach, which is kind of amazing. After all, who wouldn't want to go to the beach and call it a work trip?
Just about every member of the royal family has been seen at the beach, going all the way back to Queen Elizabeth and her corgis, to Princess Diana on vacation with Prince William and Prince Harry. Speaking of Harry, he's been at official engagements by the ocean with Meghan Markle more than once, even though their time as working royals as a married couple was relatively short.
Whether they're there for work or for play, here are the times the royals have been spotted on the beach. Of course, when they're by the ocean, they're always looking fab — and these photos are definitely making us wish we had a beach vacation planned in the near future. (Sigh.) There's always next year!
Click through to live vicariously through all of these gorgeous ocean views — and to marvel over how amazing Kate Middleton does treading through sand in heels. Just another one of her incredible talents we mere mortals could never compete with!
Isles of Scilly
In 2016, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid a visit to the UK's Isles of Scilly, somewhere William and his parents vacationed when he was a child — and where he and Kate have taken their own children on vacation, as well. At first, their visit had a bit of a setback, thanks to bad weather, but then they were able to get things back on track once the sky cleared up.
Newborough Beach
Not all of the royals' beach trips have been during warm weather — and they haven't all been strictly for fun, either. In May 2019, William and Kate visited Newborough Beach in North Wales, where they met with scouts to do some beach cleanup. (Taking care of the Earth can be fun, too, especially when kids are involved.)
Bondi Beach
During the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's 2018 trip to Australia, they visited Sydney's Bondi Beach, where they met with a local mental health organization called OneWave. Not only was the setting gorgeous, but it looked like these two were truly able to get their beach on, walking around in the sand, wearing leis, and meeting all kinds of new people — and they both seemed so happy to be doing it.
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
Making New Friends
During that same visit to Bondi Beach, Meghan and Harry posed with the surfers who have come together to create OneWave, and honestly, has there ever been a beachier photo than this one? Of course, these two have had to spend a lot of time during royal engagements dressed up and indoors, so it's good to see them take a meeting that was a bit less formal.
With a Loyal Companion
Has there ever been a more perfect way to spend a day than to take a stroll on the beach with a dog? If there is, we haven't heard of it — and we don't think Queen Elizabeth has, either. In this throwback from July 1982, she's walking by the water in Norfolk, England, with her corgis (who she is famous for adoring), looking like a picture postcard.
Princess Beatrice's Vacation
This photo was snapped of Princess Beatrice in 2012, when she was on vacation in Saint-Tropez, France, with her then-boyfriend, Dave Clark. A lot has changed since then, huh? After all, it has been a decade. But Beatrice — now married and a mom — looked so cute as she was having fun in the sun, and we have to admit that we're a bit jealous of what had to be a glam vacay.
Hanging Ten
William and Kate might seem buttoned up, but they're all about hanging loose when they get the chance. This photo is from their September 2016 visit to Towan Beach in Cornwall, England, when they met with the Wave Project, which offers surf therapy to kids. Not everybody wears a jacket or a dress to the beach, but these two look good in theirs.
A 'Baywatch' Moment
Wait a minute … is this Kate running on the beach — wearing wedges in the sand, no less — with the waves crashing behind her? What an unforgettable photo. Here, she's on Manley Beach in Sydney during a trip to Australia with William in 2014, and this was taken when they were meeting with lifeguards. Looks like a pretty fun meeting to us!
More Australian Fun
While we're talking about members of the royal family in Australia, let's add these two to the list again. Here are Meghan and Harry during their 2018 visit to the land down under. They're in Melbourne here, taking a tour of the beach, visiting with lifeguards, and doing beach cleanup — much like William and Kate have done in the past — looking perfectly windswept along the way.
South Africa
It seems like Meghan truly loved this day of her and Harry's Southern Africa tour in the fall of 2019. (Her face here says it all!) This photo was taken when they visited Monwabisi Beach in Cape Town, South Africa, and it seemed like they truly had a blast. Plus, Meghan looked great (and totally casual) in her denim jacket with her hair in a messy bun. Serious goals!
A Princess in the Waves
Taken in 1993, when she was on a vacation in the Caribbean, this photo shows Princess Diana out in the ocean, having fun in the sun. First of all, the color of that swimsuit? Absolutely perfect on her. Second of all, Diana looks amazing, and it's hard to deny that. This photo is a good one — and it's enough to make us miss Diana and the beach, all at the same time.
Visiting Canada
This photo is a major throwback! It was taken in July 2011, just a few months after William and Kate got married. Here, they're visiting Prince Edward Island in Canada, and although it was July, it was obviously still just a bit chilly. They both look so young here, but this would be one of their earliest royal beach engagements ever.
Harry in Nevis
Before he and Meghan were a thing, Harry was still hitting the beach, albeit on his own. Here, he's in Nevis in the Caribbean, visiting the beach on behalf of Queen Elizabeth and talking to people who were running a conservation project to rescue baby turtles. This allowed Harry to get involved with the tiny creatures, all in front of this beautiful backdrop.
Getting Sporty in Brazil
Look at young Harry on the beach! This photo was taken in 2012, when he was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, playing beach volleyball and rugby on Flamengo Beach. Given how much Harry has always loved sports and being active, it's no surprise that he totally got into this game on the sand, and we can't believe how much younger he looks here.
A Family Beach Day
Here's a sweet memory we're sure William and Harry are glad to have with their mom and grandma. Taken in April 1990, Diana is hanging on the beach with her boys in the British Virgin Islands with her mom, Frances Shand Kydd, and of course, Diana looks amazing as always — and William and Harry are too cute. Who doesn't love playing in the sand on the beach?
The Cayman Islands
In 2019, Prince Charles and wife Camilla paid a visit to the Cayman Islands, and here, Charles is visiting an organization to research the health of the ocean (and why it's declining) in Little Cayman. "The Prince joined a class of Year 6 pupils from Cayman International School for 'Reefs Go Live' — a live link-up to a dive team on the nearby reef," Clarence House wrote on Instagram at the time.
Beach Racers
During a visit in 2021 to St. Andrews, Scotland — yes, the same town where they met! — Kate and William got to have a little extra fun on the shore while touring the area. That included land yachting on West Sands Beach, and looking at their faces, it seems like they made some great memories that day.
The Caribbean Tour
In March 2022, William and Kate traveled around the Caribbean as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Although there were a few hiccups along the way, they seemed to enjoy their tour. And why wouldn't they, considering the views like this they got to see while in Belize?
