It’s not often we’re treated to two royal weddings in a year. Back in May, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (aka Harry and Meghan) walked down the aisle and this week it’s the turn of Princess Eugenie of York and fiancé Jack Brooksbank – also tying the knot at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. To celebrate, we take a look back at royal honeymoon destinations from the last two centuries, from glitzy Surrey estates to private tropical islands and luxury safari camps.

Queen Victoria married her German prince in 1840, in what’s since been dubbed one of the greatest love matches in history. The pair, who were first cousins, had nine children together and when Albert died 21 years after their union, the grief-stricken Queen famously mourned him by wearing black for the next 40 years.

She may have been Queen of the British Empire, but after their wedding, Victoria honeymooned for just three days at Windsor Castle. She later wrote about her “gratifying and bewildering” wedding night in her diary, saying they “kissed each other again and again.”

When King George VI married the Queen Mother he was known as Prince Albert, the Duke of York, while she was Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. George VI had to propose three times before she would agree to marry him, but they eventually wed at Westminster Abbey in April 1923.

Afterwards, they honeymooned at Polesden Lacey, a lavish mansion in Surrey, which was owned by wealthy socialite Maggie Greville. With its glittering chandeliers, 17th-century paintings and Fabergé animals, the house would have provided a lavish backdrop for the newlyweds. The bedrooms had en suites and telephones, considered the height of luxury at the time, with great attention to detail. The bath water even flowed in from the bottom, to minimise splashing.

During their break, the future King enjoyed exploring the estate gardens with his Queen, playing golf and practising their strokes on the tennis court. When Maggie Greville died in 1942, she left the house to the National Trust. Today you can walk the estate, explore the gardens and take a tour inside the mansion.

King Edward VIII caused an international scandal when he abdicated the throne after just 326 days in 1936, all so he could marry American divorcée, Wallis Simpson. The controversial couple wed in secrecy at the Château de Candé in France the following year with just 20 guests.

They honeymooned at country house hotel Schloss Wasserleonburg, in the Austrian mountains, before heading on to Venice in Italy. Here they took a boat trip up the Grand Canal, the stunning waterway that traverses the romantic city. In a recently-revealed letter written to her cousin, Wallis also said she hoped to enjoy some “sea bathing”.

Queen Elizabeth II married the Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey in November 1947 after a decade of courtship. After a reception that included a nine-foot-high wedding cake, the happy couple set off for honeymoon under a shower of rose petals. They chose Broadlands for their break, the magnificent Hampshire home of Philip’s uncle, Earl Mountbatten.

The Palladian-style mansion is set on the banks of the River Test, within a 6,000-acre estate. The sweeping drives and rolling lawns were the handiwork of Capability Brown. The house, which is open for guided tours from late June to early September, has a Sculpture Hall, paintings by acclaimed artists Van Dyck, Raeburn and Reynolds, as well as a collection of Wedgwood.

It’s testament to the Queen’s fondness for Broadlands that she and Prince Philip chose to return there for their official diamond wedding anniversary photographs in November 2007. Sixty years on, they even seemed to recreate their original honeymoon pose, with the Queen holding Philip's arm and wearing the same double strand pearl necklace and brooch.

Princess Margaret married photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones (later to become Lord Snowdon) in May 1960, before setting sail on the Royal Yacht Britannia. The 412-foot-long ship was commissioned by King George VI and served the royal family for 44 years, before it was decommissioned in 1997. 

The loved up pair headed to the Caribbean, no doubt drawn by the pristine beaches and crystalline seas. During their six-week cruise Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon visited Antigua, which is famously said to have over 365 white-sand beaches, one for every day of the year. They also docked in Mustique, a lush island dotted with frangipani and bougainvillea flowers.

The owner of Mustique, Colin Tennant, was one of Margaret’s best friends and even gave the lucky princess a piece of land there as a lavish wedding gift. She went on to build a luxurious five-bedroom villa on the site, and frequently holidayed there throughout her marriage, enjoying the privacy it afforded her. Rumours abounded of wild cocktail parties attended by rock stars and royalty alike. Sadly the marriage was less successful, and the pair divorced in 1978.

Queen Elizabeth II’s only daughter married Captain Mark Phillips in 1973, at Westminster Abbey. The couple then flew to Barbados, where they boarded the Royal Yacht Britannia, reportedly to the sound of calypso music playing the Love Story theme tune. Unfortunately, their first week at sea was beset by fierce storms, which left them seasick. Perhaps it was an omen, for the pair divorced in 1992.

Princess Anne and Captain Phillips ended their honeymoon in the Galápagos, a series of volcanic islands 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. The archipelago is known for its fantastic wildlife, which shows very little fear around humans. Visitors can get up close to giant tortoises, turtles, sea lions and even albatross colonies. It's not just a destinations for the royals and the rich: here's our budget guide to the Galápagos.

Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer's ill-fated marriage started with an 11-day cruise of the Mediterranean, aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. Some 750 million people across the globe were glued to their TV screens as the pair said their vows at St Paul’s Cathedral on 29 July 1981. 

During their honeymoon, the couple soaked up the sun in Tunisia, Sardinia, Greece and Egypt. Diana is also said to have enjoyed swimming in the sea around Britannia. A strict protocol on board the yacht meant the crew weren’t allowed to shout orders, using hand signals instead. They also wore white plimsolls, to keep their footsteps quiet. Britannia’s crew included 220 yachtsman – if one of them met a member of the royal family, he had to stand still and look directly ahead until they'd passed. Find out more about royal the yacht here.

After their cruise, the couple then returned to Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where Diana had been introduced to the royal family the year before. The couple stayed at Craigowan Lodge, a hunting lodge on the estate. As they held hands and strolled through heather, there was little to suggest they would divorce 15 years later.

After their 1986 wedding at Westminster Abbey, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson held a party at Claridge's Hotel, before heading to Heathrow Airport in an open, horse-drawn carriage. They were accompanied by a gigantic brown teddy bear, reportedly placed there by Princess Diana.

From there, they flew to the Azores, a remote Atlantic archipelago, where they enjoyed a five-day cruise aboard Britannia. The Azores’ subtropical climate and mineral-rich soil means the volcanic islands are enveloped in lush pastures, with dramatic slopes dipping down to impossibly blue lakes. The surrounding ocean is famous for its whale watching and incredible diving.

Some 200 million TV viewers tuned in to watch the Queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward, marry PR consultant Sophie Rhys-Jones in June 1999. After their wedding at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, the newlyweds travelled to Birkhall, a grand hunting lodge in Scotland.

The Jacobean mansion, close to the River Dee, is set amid the sprawling 50,000-acre Balmoral Estate. Bought by Queen Victoria in 1849, Birkhall has been passed down through the royal family and when the Queen Mother died in 2002, she handed it to Prince Charles. It’s said that the Earl and Countess of Wessex had initially planned a seven-day honeymoon, but extended it because the weather was so warm.

Prince Charles followed in his younger brother’s footsteps when he and Camilla Parker Bowles also honeymooned at Birkhall in April 2005. The couple, who married at Windsor Guildhall and are now the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, even broke off their romantic holiday to open a children’s playground in the nearby town of Ballater.

Peter Phillips became the first of the Queen’s grandchildren to marry, when he wed Canadian student Autumn Kelly at Windsor Castle in May 2008. Afterwards, the pair jetted of to South Africa, where they stayed at Tuningi Safari Lodge, a luxury resort set in the Madikwe Game Reserve.

Tuningi Safari Lodge offers incredible opportunities to spot rhino, buffalo, elephants, lions, leopards and cheetahs. The luxury suites have private wrap-around decks and the pool overlooks a watering hole, which is popular with elephants. Guests can sip a sundowner from their private bar, while watching the wildlife.

Bedrooms feature gigantic bathrooms with oversized baths, each with a view of the reserve. Massages are available on the private decks, while meals are served under a fig tree, overlooking the watering hole.

Zara Phillips chose Edinburgh as the location for her July 2011 marriage to rugby ace Mike Tindall. In what was a relaxed affair (by royal standards at least), she wore an off-the-peg dress. When it came to the vows, she chose to honour rather than obey her new husband.

The couple’s sporting careers meant they had to delay their honeymoon by three months, but in October 2011 they travelled to the five-star Columbia Beach Resort, near Limassol in Cyprus. The couple spent their break swimming, reading and sunbathing, with the odd trip to the beach bar.

It might have been a honeymoon, but Zara didn’t let her fitness slide, reportedly hitting the hotel gym. Hopefully she also made good use of the hotel spa, which has an indoor pool, sauna, hot tub, plunge pool and steam room, as well as yoga and aerobics studio.

Their fairy-tale wedding in April 2011 was broadcast across the globe, with thousands of well-wishers lining the streets around Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. But when it came to their honeymoon, Prince William and Kate Middleton – now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – wanted a rather more private affair.

The lovebirds flew to the Seychelles, where they spent ten days relaxing on a secluded private island, only accessible by helicopter or boat. The remote location, coupled with strict local privacy laws, meant the couple could enjoy an intimate break, away from the glare of the paparazzi.

William and Kate reportedly stayed in North Island, in a £5,000 a night luxury villa with its own pool, personal chef and butler. The Seychelles are famous for their white sandy beaches and glittering azure waters, teeming with tropical marine life.

The world's eyes were on Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle – now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – as they tied the knot on 19 May 2018. The couple followed in the footsteps of Prince Edward and Peter Phillips by marrying at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in a ceremony that featured 600 guests, a gospel choir and a rousing sermon from Bishop Michael Curry. It's estimated billions of people around the world tuned in to watch it broadcast live on TV.

After such a public wedding it's understandable Harry and Meghan wanted to keep their honeymoon a secret. The dedicated couple even delayed going away so they could attend their first royal engagement as a married couple a week after the big day. At the time it was widely speculated they then jetted off to Namibia to the Hoanib Valley Camp, a luxury camp nestled among desert, mountains and sand dunes. However recently Harry said of his honeymoon: "No, we didn't go to Namibia," adding "I'm not going to say where." 

One other possibility is Botswana. A favourite of the couple, Harry and Meghan visited the country together after just two dates, only to return a year into their relationship and camp under the twinkling African night sky. Harry has described Botswana as his “second home” and it’s here that he sourced the middle diamond in Meghan’s stunning engagement ring.

However the most recent reports suggest the royal couple may have honeymooned in Canada. The Duchess lived in Toronto from 2011 while filming Netflix show Suits, but it's believed Harry and Meghan chose a spot in the west of the country, staying at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta's Rocky Mountains.

On 12 October 2018 the world will once again be watching St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle as Princess Eugenie – the younger daughter of the Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York (formerly Sarah Ferguson) – marries businessman Jack Brooksbank. Around 1,200 members of the public have been invited into Windsor Castle's grounds and, as at Harry and Meghan's wedding, there will also be a carriage procession after the ceremony.

Princess Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank haven't revealed where they will holiday after their wedding. However high on the list of potential destinations is Verbier, the Swiss ski resort where the couple met during the Duke of York's 50th birthday celebrations in 2010. It's a place they have regularly returned to.

Alternatively, the couple might take up Richard Branson's reported offer of staying at his Necker Island retreat in the Caribbean. Extensively damaged during Hurricane Irma in September 2017, Necker Island is set to reopen on 20 October. Apparently Virgin boss Richard has mooted that Eugenie and Jack spend time on the island before its official relaunch. Watch this space...

Fancy living like royalty? Take a look at our round-up of 13 British castles you can actually stay in.