Prince Harry and Meghan reportedly took their children for a secret retreat to Scotland during their recent UK visit. Instead of visiting the royal estate of Balmoral, they are said to have journeyed to Tanera Mor, a remote island owned by wealthy hedge fund manager Ian Wace. Wace purchased the 800-acre island in 2017 for £1.7 million and has invested around £100 million in its restoration.
The island, known for its role in inspiring the 1973 film The Wicker Man, now boasts restored buildings and a natural landscape. The Taigh Mor Foundation on the island accommodates approximately 500 guests annually, including individuals from the Police and Armed Forces, offering a serene and rejuvenating environment.
Ian Wace, a friend of Prince Harry, and his wife Saffron Aldridge were reported to have joined the Duke and Duchess at a Cirque du Soleil performance in 2019 at the Royal Albert Hall. The visit to Tanera Mor is believed to have included activities like building restoration, mackerel fishing, and working in the island’s kitchens and gardens.
While representatives for both the Sussexes and Ian Wace declined to comment on the matter, the alleged visit occurred shortly after Meghan shared glimpses of their UK trip on Instagram. The photos included scenes from the Scottish Highlands and a visit to Althorp, the Spencer family home where Princess Diana is buried.
Additional images depicted the Sussexes enjoying a beach outing, Harry playing with their daughter in a swimming pool in Portugal, and a potential family holiday home in Portugal near Princess Eugenie’s residence. The Sussexes made a deliberate choice not to show their children’s faces in the photos to maintain privacy.
Despite the disclosed vacation activities, no pictures were shared of the Sussexes’ family reunion with the King and Queen at Highgrove two weeks prior. This visit marked the first time Harry and Meghan brought their children to meet their grandfather in four years, due to security concerns when they were in the UK. The last encounter the children had with their grandfather was during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.