When Queen Camilla chatted with Novak Djokovic ahead of his quarter-final match on Wednesday, shortly before he dispatched last Brit standing Cameron Norrie, the talk turned from tennis to travel – with the royal heard thanking the Serbian tennis ace for a stay in Montenegro.
The Queen, 77, described her holiday as ‘lovely’ before Novak, 38, who’s vying for his eighth Wimbledon crown responded: ‘Oh yes, the property in Montenegro. Wonderful. I hope you enjoyed it.’
It was clear she had, for Camilla replied: ‘Lovely. It was quite a long time ago. Very nice.’
The Serbian star’s love affair with Montenegro is a long one; he’s owned several villas in the beautiful Balkan country and Queen Camilla is thought to have enjoyed a stay at a property the pro athlete shares with his wife Jelena at Montenegro’s swishest resort.
Portonovi sits in Boka Bay on Montenegro’s sultry riviera, which is a glamorous collision of fjord-like scenery and rising mountains.
It’s a collection of private properties and also has an outpost of the uber luxurious One&Only brand, where a B&B double room this summer will set you back from £1,181-a-night.
Following his chat with Queen Camilla, the tennis ace, current world number six, wouldn’t divulge the details of their chat, saying it was a private ‘non-tennis’ matter.
However, snippets of their conversation caught on video suggested they were discussing the ‘lovely setting’ of the property Camilla had resided in while in the country – and vistas don’t come much prettier than Boka Bay.
When the Queen met the King of tennis, Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon on Wednesday, the pair were heard discussing Camilla’s stay in a property in Montenegro that’s owned by Novak
Portonovi, Montenegro sits in a plum spot on beautiful Boka Bay close to the pretty UNESCO heritage city of Kotor: Tennis star Novak, 38, has been spotted frequently enjoying the resort over the years – including its courts
There are around 200 villas, penthouses, luxury townhouses – with private pools and gardens, and apartments at Portonovi – alongside the One&Only resort
The coastal spot, close to the terracotta-roofed medieval city of Kotor and below Lovćen Mountain, is in Europe’s southernmost fjord, a bay of the Adriatic Sea – and guests frequently arrive by speedboat transfer for the full James Bond experience.
Novak has been spotted on multiple occasions enjoying the resort with this family and is thought to own of the private properties in its 26-hectare grounds, which are nudged up to 1.8km of sparkling coastline.
Exclusive holiday resort brand One&Only sets up in drop-dead gorgeous locations and offers some very regal facilities, so what might the Queen have enjoyed during her stay?
It’s clear that Novak himself regards the resort as a home-from-home; he’s been pictured on social media driving a golf buggy around Portonovi, which boasts a shopping parade, art galleries, multiple gyms and sports clubs as well as wellness centres – and ten restaurants and four bars.
Whether the royal, likely the Duchess of Cornwall during her visit, partook in any sporting activities if she stayed at Portonovi is unclear but Djokovic certainly has faith that the courts available to guests checking in are first class.
Over the years, those who’ve stayed at the resort have shared images of the 38-year-old on Instagram frequently prepping in pre-season on Portonovi’s state-of-the-art floodlit courts.
Those inspired by Wimbledon this week might expect to pay 1000 euros, around £865, should they book into a ten-hour academy with pro coaching at the resort.
For others who fancy nothing more exerting than a luxury sun lounger, there are plenty of places to recline, from the private white-sand beach to fragrant landscaped gardens.
Dig deep: A room at the One&Only resort starts from around £1,100 this summer
The resort is located in spectacular Boka Bay, which has become an increasingly popular spot for holidaymakers looking for an alternative to the Med
Ever the pro, Novak said his conversation with the Queen was ‘private’ but the royal and the tennis star were heard discovering the ‘lovely setting’ of the property Camilla had stayed in belonging to the tennis star
One of the flood-lit tennis courts where Novak has been seen honing his game in pre-season
Alongside a private white-sand beach, there’s idyllic pools and al fresco dining areas
Properties come with views of Boka Bay, which boasts fjord-like scenery with rising mountains behind it
The Chenot Espace Wellness Centre takes a scientific approach to health and beauty
Younger guests – Novak has son Stefan, 11, and daughter Tara, seven – are equally well catered for, with the KidsOnly or teen-friendly One Tribe clubs, where raft building, film nights and sports tournaments are all offered.
When night falls, Portonovi Marina is where those enjoying a stay might promenade to for dinner.
The resort has an impressive ten places to dine, including Japanese fusion at Tapasake and Montenegrin-inspired seafood and meat at Malo Ribarsko.
Spa treatments at the Chenot Espace Wellness Centre, which takes a scientific approach to wellness, include ‘next-generation skincare and cosmetic technology’, according to the resort’s website.
Beyond the hotel, there are around 200 villas, penthouses, luxury townhouses – with private pools and gardens – and apartments at Portonovi.
Private homes, like the one Djokovic is rumoured to own, are Mediterranean in style, often with both mountain and sea views – and high-end facilities, including energy-efficient tech and luxe interiors.
Montenegro, which gained independence from Serbia in 2006, has become a magnet for the wealthy in the last 20 years, and hasn’t hidden the fact it wants to become the Balkan’s answer to the Cote D’Azur.
Tycoons sail in on superyachts, and five-star hotels from some of the world’s most exclusive chains have sprung up along the beaches.
Montenegro isn’t yet part of the European Union though – despite being a candidate country for 15 years.
However, with vast investment in its tourism industry and with it Government actively working to meet the EU’s criteria, it looks likely to join in the not-too-distant future.
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