William and Kate return from memorable honeymoon

Royal newlyweds the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have returned to the UK from a sun-kissed honeymoon in the Seychelles.

The pair spent 10 private days together on the secluded North Island in the Indian Ocean archipelago, the palace confirmed Saturday.

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William had booked Villa No 4 – one of a handful of luxury retreats scattered across the island – which costs nearly 4,560 pounds a night. The pair had been forced to downgrade from a 6,840 pounds -a-night honeymoon villa as its location in the Takamaka Forest was deemed to be less secure.

"The couple thoroughly enjoyed their time together, and they are grateful to the Seychelles government for their assistance in making the honeymoon such a memorable and special 10 days," the Mirror quoted a Clarence House spokesman as saying.

Before Wills, 28, and Kate, 29, left, they told staff they had had the "time of our lives".

Looking tanned and relaxed, they personally thanked the coastguards hired to protect them.

A member of staff said: "The diving was probably the highlight of the holiday. They went out during the day and at night too.

Wills told island staff: "I've had the best diving I've ever experienced while I've been here. It has been amazing. We have had a truly magical time.

"One of the main reasons we came here was because it's a country that looks after its own environment, which is something that is close to my own heart."

With a smile, he quipped: "It's also harder for people to track us down! Neither of us want to leave."