Five minutes of fame: Is Anglesey having a royal resurgence?

William and Kate have put The Isle of Anglesey on the property map by making it their post-wedding home. Nikki Sheehan investigates what this means for house hunters 

 

Fancy rubbing shoulders, or even fighting over the last steak in Waitrose with the nation’s favourite couple? Then move to Anglesey.
It may be home to the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, but this little gem, situated just across the Menai Strait from North Wales, with 125 miles of rugged coastline, and beaches to die for, is definitely not just for the ruling classes.
The couple reportedly pay £750 a month to rent their isolated four-bed farmhouse near William’s RAF Valley base. But if you want to buy, prices start at about £60,000 for a Victorian terrace.
"The island has always been popular, but this has really put it on the map," says Chris Dibb, sales director at Fine & Country.
"People are phoning and enquiring about the villages on the west coast, Trearddur Bay, Rhosneigr, and Rhoscolyn, because of the press coverages.
East of the island 
But for those with deeper pockets, the Menai Strait, to the east, is perennially fashionable. "We’ve got a succession of million-pound properties along there, a lot of them at the water’s edge.
"The town of Beaumaris is very historic, and very trendy. There’s the Royal Anglesey Yacht club and golf courses. And Menai Bridge is a lovely town. If you’re lucky you might bump into Kate in the Waitrose there."
If you can’t stretch to the Menai Strait Dibb suggests searching on the east coast.
Beautiful beach 
"Pentraeth has a beautiful beach. There are good pubs and some nice individual shops. We’re selling the Old Smithy there which overlooks Red Wharf Bay for £365k."

With a gulfstream-warmed climate, good surfing, and even locally-produced cheese, chocolate and wine, the attractions of Anglesey are obvious.
But do you need to speak Welsh? Kate Middleton singing the Welsh national anthem endeared her to locals, "but it’s not absolutely necessary", says Dibb. "Anglesey’s actually very cosmopolitan."