There’s still a cloud of mystery hanging over whether Prince William and Kate Middleton visited Kefalonia, as was widely speculated in the British press. According to reports, the royal couple, along with their three children and Kate’s parents, supposedly boarded a luxury yacht and disappeared into the crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea.

Even the Daily Mail picked up the story, wondering aloud whether the royals actually made the trip — or if it was all just myth-making.

Locals insist the royal family arrived in Kefalonia on July 16 via private Lear Jet before boarding a yacht. “Yes, of course. I’ve got a photo of their yacht,” said a local taxi driver, showing an image of the Norn, anchored north of Argostoli. “It belongs to a Microsoft billionaire. I’m sure that’s the yacht they’re on,” he added.

The story may well hold some truth. By July 19, new rumors were circulating — this time suggesting that the royals were being hosted by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE, owner of the Opera, a 146-meter, £340-million mega-yacht.

Social media only added fuel to the fire. In the village of Agia Efimia, people claimed the Opera had dropped anchor, and that the royal family had been brought ashore in an inflatable boat. “Twelve black vans came and took them to the Melissani Cave, which was closed off just for them,” said a waiter.

A Story That Sounds Like a Greek Myth

When asked whether he saw them himself, the waiter admitted: “No, I didn’t — but my cousin Vagelis did.” However, Vagelis gave a slightly different — and crucial — version: “I saw the limousines go by, but I didn’t see them up close.”

Others claimed to have spotted members of the royal family, but boat operators at Melissani Cave denied it: “It was Arab visitors, not William and Kate.” Similar denials came from restaurants supposedly visited by the royals. Two said they would’ve proudly welcomed them had they come. A third confirmed that someone from the Opera’s crew stopped by — but not the royals themselves.

The Daily Mail noted that the whole thing was starting to feel more like a Greek myth than a vacation story — especially given Prince William’s environmental advocacy through the Earthshot Prize. It seemed unlikely he would travel aboard a super-polluting yacht.

“They Were There”

Enter Penelope Lykoudi, a retired Defense Ministry employee and self-declared royal superfan, who claims to have seen them with her own eyes. A resident of Ithaca with a view of Mavrona Bay near the village of Kioni, she swims daily for exercise. Last Tuesday, around 11:30 a.m., she noticed a yacht anchored about 100 meters out and swam closer.

“They were there. Kate was standing on the upper deck with Charlotte and Louis. She was wearing a dark dress. Next to her was an older woman, probably her mother. I was overwhelmed. I just stood there in awe. I wish I had called out to them… But I didn’t see William or George,” she said.

Before leaving, she snapped some photos from the shore. The yacht turned out to be the Almax, a 50-meter, £40-million eco-superyacht powered by fuel cells.

A Superyacht Catwalk

Marine tracking data shows the Almax left Kioni the next day and returned to Argostoli on Friday. Witnesses say different people disembarked the following morning.

It’s possible the Windsors came ashore elsewhere — or maybe they weren’t there at all. Coincidentally, the Norn, owned by Microsoft billionaire Charles Simonyi (the yacht mentioned by the taxi driver), was also spotted nearby. “This area is like a runway for superyachts,” said a local shop owner. That same afternoon, someone arrived at the Norn by helicopter. Some claimed it was William — but Penelope Lykoudi wasn’t so sure.

By Sunday, Prince William and Princess Charlotte were spotted in Switzerland, attending the Euro final. Reports suggest the family has now returned to the UK.

As of now, whether they really visited Kefalonia remains a mystery — and Kensington Palace has declined to comment, only adding to the intrigue.