Buena Vista Images, Chris Jackson/Getty ImagesIt must be amazing to meet Prince William and Kate Middleton while they're on official royal business, but it's probably even better meeting them while they're kicking their feet up on vacation!
Martin Katz, a Beverly Hills jeweler to the stars, and his wife Kelly, were lucky enough to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge while they vacationed on the exclusive resort island of Mustique back in 2008. The Hollywood couple had been grabbing a drink at the Cotton House Hotel when they ran into the royals.
"I was standing at the [hotel] bar ordering one of the fancy drinks and Kate actually came up to the bar and was quite pleasant and chatty. She couldn't be more friendly and more open," Katz told People magazine.
He chatted up Prince George and Prince Charlotte's mom while his wife got to know Wills, that is until Katz found a way to break any tension there might have been. "We started talking about scuba diving. They had gone that day or the day before, and while I was talking, I was holding a glass of fruit punch and it slipped from my hand and crashed to the floor and sprayed all over the prince's feet. He was in flip-flops," he explained.
"I was mortified of course, but all I heard was, 'That was quite refreshing, thank you.' His mother would have been quite proud that he handled himself with such dignity. It was a very embarrassing moment for me, and he was very kind about it, and my wife never lets me forget that moment. I tried [to buy him a round], but I don't think he was partaking in any more rounds," he added.
Kate and William have made Mustique there go-to destination when taking a break from the spotlight, as the royal couple has flown to the idyllic Caribbean island several times, including for a babymoon! As for why they are creatures of habit on this island? It's incredibly private.
Mustique has a no-fly zone over the island, and non-residents can only see its beaches from the water. "They had a wonderful villa that overlooked a very quiet beach," Katz dished. "It is a very simple life. We saw them up by their villa and occasionally on the beach. They were pretty much allowed to be left alone."
With freedom to roam around, the royals were really able to relax, which meant not having to wear makeup and fancy clothes all day long!
"Kate looked very casual, she wasn't particularly wearing makeup, she looked lovely. She just couldn't be more gracious and talked to everybody who would talk to her. It wasn't like she was working the room, but if someone wanted to speak to her, she was happy to speak," Katz dished.
"They were lovely and they couldn't be more present. I think what struck me was that they were human like everybody else, dressing to fit in like everybody else."