Inside the real Mustique island, the glamorous private getaway Princess Margaret keeps returning to on 'The Crown'

Gili Malinsky,Sophie-Claire HoellerDec 2, 2020, 00:34 IST

Helena Bonham Carter plays Princess Margaret in "The Crown."Des Willie/Netflix

Mustique is a real, private Caribbean island on which the rich and famous have vacationed for decades.
Princess Margaret established its royal renown when she built a home there in the '60s.
Other royals like Prince William and Kate Middleton and celebrities including Mick Jagger and David Bowie also frequented the quiet Caribbean spot.
Since its founding, the island has adhered to a strict no-paparazzi policy, which is part of the reason why celebrities flock there.
The island recently came back into the spotlight on seasons three and four of "The Crown."

In 1976, the Caribbean island of Mustique was thrust into the global spotlight when Princess Margaret jetted there with her then-lover, the 17-years-her-junior Roddy Llewellyn, causing a tabloid frenzy.

In 2020, the island is back in the limelight thanks to Netflix's "The Crown."

In both season 3 and the recently released season 4, Princess Margaret escapes to Mustique when she needs a break.

In real life, she began vacationing on the island in the '60s, having been gifted a 10-acre plot of land there by Mustique's then-owner, Colin Tennant (now Lord Glenconner), on which she built a vacation home.

Her frequent trips ushered in a slew of interested celebrities, including rock stars like Mick Jagger and David Bowie, who each eventually built their own extravagant villas there.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have also been going to the quiet Caribbean spot for years, according to Vogue.

From its time as a desolate spot among hundreds of small islands in the region to becoming a famous A-lister hub, here's the true story behind the island of Mustique.

The island of Mustique is part of a set of islands making up the nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, located in the Caribbean.

The island of Mustique is part of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Google Maps

Beginning in the 18th century, the region's islands were colonized by the British.

An aerial view of the island of Mustique. Jean-Marc LECERF/Contributor/Getty images

Before the islands' official independence, British aristocrat Colin Tennant bought Mustique for £45,000 (around $1,254,000 today).

Colin Tennant on Mustique in March 1973. Slim Aarons/Getty Images

In 1960, Tennant gave longtime-friend Princess Margaret a 10-acre plot of land on the island, which is when her frequent trips to Mustique began.

Princess Margaret with Colin Tennant on Mustique island in February 1989. Slim Aarons/Stringer/Getty images

Princess Margaret built a luxurious five-bedroom villa on the island called Les Jolies Eaux, meaning beautiful waters.

Princess Margaret's Les Jolies Eaux villa on Mustique. Brent Winebrenner/Getty images

A tabloid frenzy caused by one of Princess Margaret's trips there with her then-lover Roddy Llewellyn in 1976 is what really put Mustique on the map.

Princess Margaret and Roddy Llewellyn on Mustique in 1976. Anwar Hussein/Contributor/Getty images

Queen Elizabeth eventually made her way to Mustique, too.

Queen Elizabeth II arrives in Mustique and is welcomed by Princess Margaret in 1977. Anwar Hussein/Getty images

Taking a cue from his arrangement with Margaret, Tennant sold plots of land on the island to wealthy buyers who could build and design their own homes there.

The Antilles house in Mustique. Jean-Marc LECERF/Contributor/Getty images

With new landowners free to design their homes according to their specific tastes, the 100-or-so villas on the island each have their own unique style.

Gingerbread houses in Mustique. Dave G. Houser/Getty images

Of those villas on Mustique, dozens are available for rent, like the Hibiscus villa, a five-bedroom, Tuscan-style home with panoramic views of nearby beaches.

The Hibiscus villa in Mustique. Dan Forer/Getty images

The Coccoloba is another rentable villa on the island, featuring four bedrooms, a private screening room, two pools, and an in-house staff of six.

The Coccoloba villa in Mustique. Brent Winebrenner/Getty images

The Opium villa has safari-style decor and Bali-inspired architecture, according to its website, as well as a koi pond.

The Opium villa in Mustique. Brent Winebrenner/Getty images

Since its founding, the island has adhered to a strict no-paparazzi policy, which is part of the reason why celebrities flock there.

A picnic on Mustique. Bob Steiner/Getty images

One celebrity famous for his exploits on Mustique is rock star Mick Jagger.

Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall on a beach in Mustique on February 18, 1987. Georges De Keerle/Getty images

David Bowie also owned a Balinese-style villa in Mustique called Mandalay.

David Bowie's Mandalay villa in Mustique. Mandalay Owner

Restaurants are few and far between — but some, like Basil's bar, are institutions.

Basil's bar in Mustique. Jean-Marc LECERF/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

In 1976, Tennant sold the Mustique Company, which he'd founded to build the island, to Mustique's homeowners, who became shareholders. The company now runs the island.

Mustique island in the Caribbean. Dmitri V Tonkopi/Shutterstock

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