Mustique: The Enchanting Caribbean Island in the Spotlight as Kate Moss Marks Her 50th Birthday

As Kate Moss celebrates her 50th birthday on Mustique, the Caribbean island is experiencing a moment in the limelight. Princess Margaret’s connection to the island in The Crown’s final chapter and the recent gathering for Moss’s pre-birthday celebration underscore Mustique’s allure.

Ever since Princess Margaret received a plot of land on Mustique in 1959 from the late Colin Tennant, the island has become a haven for royals and Hollywood celebrities alike. Kate Moss, among the latest to join the list, chose Mustique for her milestone celebration, emphasizing the island’s appeal for its seclusion, eccentricity, and promise of hedonism. While technically part of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Mustique’s unique character sets it apart.

Mustique is a privately held oasis, devoid of the typical gated community uniformity. It is both super exotic and eclectic, offering isolation, extravagance, and legendary social exchanges. The island, home to over 100 lavish villas, has become a magnet for the rich and famous seeking an unparalleled escape.

Picnics and Pleasures: Mustique’s traditions include daytime picnics on its pristine beaches, with Macaroni Beach and Gelliceaux Bay being popular choices. These picnics, far from ordinary, are staffed, furnished, and feature freshly prepared Caribbean lobster and flowing rosé. The Cotton House, Mustique’s sole hotel, remains a favored dinner spot, and Basil’s Bar, where bacchanalia has unfolded for nearly 50 years, buzzes with live music, drawing celebrities like Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, and Mick Jagger.

Villas and Vibrancy: Most of Mustique’s socializing occurs at its opulent villas, each with a unique name. Visitors, including Moss and her party, often opt to rent these large and lavish residences. Notable villas include Toucan Hill, The Terraces, Palm Beach owned by Tommy Hilfiger, Obsidian favored by Tom Ford, the bamboo-clad Beach House beloved by Daphne Guinness, and Princess Margaret’s Les Jolies Eaux, designed by Oliver Messel.

Despite its glitzy allure, Mustique maintains a relatively low-key atmosphere, setting it apart from other star-studded Caribbean locales like St Barts. Paparazzi concerns are minimal, dress codes are nonexistent, and the doors of villas are often open to strangers. Mustique has retained its delightful charm, providing a space for the rich and famous to be themselves, away from the spotlight and within the embrace of luxury.

As Princess Margaret noted in The Crown, Mustique is where the affluent and renowned can be “in full flow,” a testament to its enduring allure as a retreat for those seeking a touch of extravagance without sacrificing authenticity.