When international monarchs book a hotel, there are three prerequisites: comfy beds, palatial surroundings and a resort steeped in history.
And for guests looking for similar royal treatment, many of the stately resorts are open for public bookings.
Here are six hotels fit for a king or queen to inspire your next holiday.
Gasthof Post, Austria
This family-owned property may have all the luxuries and amenities of a five-star boutique hotel, but the owners insist at its heart it remains “an inn”.
The 48-room property has been a firm favourite of generations of the Dutch royal family, with Queen Beatrix and Queen Juliana passing on their love of the resort to King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, who are regular visitors during ski season.
King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan have also stayed at the hotel, which is home to a day spa and perfumery, as well as fine dining and traditional restaurants.
postlech.com
Hotel Hassler Roma, Italy
Hotel Hassler, situated at the top of the Spanish Steps, has welcomed many of the world's stars.
Since it opened in 1893, it has been a port of call for royalty including Queen Noor of Jordan, King Carlos of Spain, King Gustaf of Sweden, Prince Felix of Luxembourg and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark.
The UK's King Charles III (who was then a prince) stayed with his former wife Diana, Princess of Wales in 1991, while Monaco’s Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly honeymooned there.
It's home to nine categories of regal suites and penthouses, which are fit for kings and queens, and offers traditional elegance, magnificent paintings, French silk accents and stunning views of the ancient city. It's also where you'll find the Michelin-starred Italian restaurant Imago.
hotelhasslerroma.com
Fairmont San Francisco, US
Sitting at the top of Nob Hill, this 592-room property offers panoramic views across San Francisco and has welcomed plenty of royal guests.
Built in 1907, the Fairmont San Francisco has a firm place in pop culture as the first location where Tony Bennett sang his enduring hit I Left My Heart in San Francisco.
Music royalty aside, the likes of King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort and King Hussein of Jordan have all stayed there, as have Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit during their 2013 tour of the US.
fairmont.com/san-francisco
Taj Mahal Palace, India
The blend of heritage and opulence at this luxury hotel at the Gateway to India has attracted royal visitors and dignitaries for 120 years.
Modern visitors include members of the Japanese royal family and the king and queen of Norway, while past dignitaries include Britain's Prince Philip, King George V and Queen Mary.
When Prince William and his wife Kate, Princess of Wales visited in 2016, they stayed in the Rajput Suite and enjoyed the Jivaniya couple’s treatment from the spa.
tajhotels.com
Le Meurice, France
When a hotel is nicknamed the “Hotel of Kings” and its opulence is inspired by Versailles, it’s clear some serious luminaries have passed through the front doors.
The hotel from Dorchester Collection, which opened in 1835 in Paris, has hosted royals from past and present, including King Paul and Queen Frederica of Greece and Nikola I of Montenegro.
King Alfonso XIII of Spain stayed at the hotel after he was ousted from the throne in 1931.
Overlooking the Tuileries Garden, all rooms come with butler service and it has the only Valmont spa in Paris.
dorchestercollection.com
Suvretta House St Moritz, Switzerland
A self-professed “fairytale castle” in the Swiss Alps, Suvretta House St Moritz is used to welcoming royals looking for some seriously good skiing. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden are regulars.
It opened in 1912 and King Farouk of Egypt and Crown Prince Akihito of Japan have stayed at the hotel, which has a private ski lift from the front door to whisk guests off to an array of runs and Piz Nair.
The property aims to take a more traditional approach, with a daily tea served at 5pm, while a suit and tie is mandatory for men dining in the evening.
suvrettahouse.ch
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
- Parasite – 4
- 1917– 3
- Ford v Ferrari – 2
- Joker – 2
- Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
- American Factory – 1
- Bombshell – 1
- Hair Love – 1
- Jojo Rabbit – 1
- Judy – 1
- Little Women – 1
- Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
- Marriage Story – 1
- Rocketman – 1
- The Neighbors' Window – 1
- Toy Story 4 – 1
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
RESULT
Bayern Munich 5 Eintrracht Frankfurt 2
Bayern: Goretzka (17'), Müller (41'), Lewandowski (46'), Davies (61'), Hinteregger (74' og)
Frankfurt: Hinteregger (52', 55')
Super heroes
Iron Man
Reduced risk of dementia
Alcohol consumption could be an issue
Hulk
Cardiac disease, stroke and dementia from high heart rate
Spider-Man
Agility reduces risk of falls
Increased risk of obesity and mental health issues
Black Panther
Vegetarian diet reduces obesity
Unknown risks of potion drinking
Black Widow
Childhood traumas increase risk of mental illnesses
Thor
He's a god
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
On racial profiling at airports
