Many young couples seeking to get away from it all might choose a tent on a campsite – but not Prince William and his bride.
Instead they got a small island to themselves in the heart of the Canadian wilderness, leaving their retinue and protection officers behind and having just a chef, nesting bald eagles and the Canadian national bird, the loon, for company.
The trip on Tuesday evening following a day of official engagements in Yellowknife, capital of the Northwest Territories, was to an uninhabited island on Blachford Lake about 100 miles away from the city.
The granite rock landmass, which has only a few pine trees and a sandy beach, is normally known as Eagle island.
But owners Mike Freeland and Tessa Macintosh, who also own a nearby tourist lodge, happily played along with suggestions that in future it would be known as Honeymoon island.
They confided that they themselves had spent the first night of their marriage there in 1991.
After watching the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge set off in their canoe, Macintosh said: "When I was taken there I thought my new husband was the most romantic man on Earth. I'm sure that is just how Kate must feel now.
"I think it is tremendous that they have decided to come here and spend time. They may not have long but after all the travelling and chaos of the past few days, this really will recharge their batteries."
Her husband, who has owned the land since 1980, added: "The island is very beautiful. I'm not sure if Kate knew about this in advance or whether it was a surprise.
"There isn't much on the island. But one of our chefs has prepared a meal of local cranberries, Bannock bread and caribou as well as some white fish.
"The midnight sunset here is regarded as the slowest sunset in the world and it's very spectacular."
After three hours, the couple were collected from the island by a motorboat and flown by seaplane back to Yellowknife.
Their next move is to a less happy spot – Slave Lake, south of Yellowknife, where they are meeting the survivors of disastrous recent forest fires and the rescue services who responded to emergency calls.
