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
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
'I Want You Back'
Director:Jason Orley
Stars:Jenny Slate, Charlie Day
Rating:4/5
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
FIGHT%20CARD
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 220Nm
Price: Dh98,900
'The Predator'
Dir: Shane Black
Starring: Olivia Munn, Boyd Holbrook, Keegan-Michael Key
Two and a half stars
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
