Royal honeymoon rumoured for Jasper, Alta., resort

Rumours are swirling that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will honeymoon at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, but the resort says nothing is "currently booked."

On Monday, the gossip siteTMZreported the newly married couplewere planning to stay at a luxurious six-bedroom cabin in Alberta's tourist hot spot.

But the rumours that have been tweeted, reported, and talked about from Alberta to London, and everywhere in between, could mark a rocky start to the trip.

Angela Moore, a spokesperson for the resort in Jasper National Park, said "the couple is not currently booked for a stay."

And hoteliers that have hosted royal couples in the past say privacy is the prime concern when it comes to a royal visit.

Secrecy key to success

William and Kate, theDuke and Duchess of Cambridge, stayed during their first royal tour as a married couple in 2011 at the Skoki Lodge in Alberta.

"The challenge for us was to see if we could pull it off without anyone finding out and we did," said Dan Markham, communications director for Lake Louise Ski Resort, which ownsSkokiLodge.

Their sojourn atSkokiLodge was unknown to most of the world, until the royals had completed most of their stay in the remote and pristine alpine meadow.

The story eventually surfaced after a prior guest told a Globe and Mail reporter that hesaw construction crews installing a toilet and bathroom at the remote lodge.

Someone admitted it was for an upcoming visit by some very, very important people.

Markham said just a handful of people at the family-owned ski resort knew about William and Kate's visit. Then they had to co-ordinate with the office of protocol for the royal family.

That's where the directive for indoor plumbing originated.

"It was the protocol office that says any royal at a certain level must have these certain things available to them," Markham said.

No official booking

Jasper officials did not confirm that Harry and Meghanwere scheduled to honeymoon there.

"While we greatly appreciate the interest in our beautiful destination, and thoughJasperand the FairmontJasperPark Lodge have a long-standing history of serving as a royal retreat, we can confirm that the couple is not currently booked for a visit," wrote James Jackson, the general manager of Tourism Jasper.

But the Outlook Cabin, also known as the Royal Retreat,has hosted royalty in the past.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth stayed there in 1939. The cabin was destroyed by fire in 2000, but was rebuilt according to the original floor plans from 1930.

In 2005, the Queen and Prince Philip also stayed at the cabin.

Rumour creates a local buzz

At the Jasper Planetarium on Monday, general manager Peter McMahon said his staff has noticed "additional helicopter activity lately."

McMahon speculated the unusual number of helicopters could be for Parks Canada or tourism, but it could also indicate a pending visit from a high-profile guest.

"It certainly bears out what could be happening in terms of staff scouting out locations for things," McMahon said. "If there is going to be a royal honeymoon here,what's more romantic than the Canadian Rockies?"

Sylvie Walsh, owner of Bombshell Boutique, said she woke up to a text from a friend alerting her to the Jasper rumour. Walsh said she would be overjoyed if the Duchess of Sussex visited her shop.

"I would obviously be thrilled to have her in the store, being a celebrity with some connections to Canada. It's always wonderful to have someone like that in the shop," Walsh said.

"I'd be keen to show her all of our amazing Canadian designers that we are thrilled to showcase here at the boutique."

'World's most boring place'?

Meanwhile, a New York PostPage Six headline describing Jasper, Alta., as the "world's most boring place" has drawn the ire of social media users.

The jabtopped an article about the honeymoon rumours.

Fans of the picturesque getaway took to Twitter to defend the mountain town and chastise the Post's gossip column for being unfair.

One Twitter user by the name of IsabelHorvath, with the handle @Izzzywith3zees, felt compelled to speak for the entire country: "We in Canada are not amused," says the tweet.

The royal couple have not revealed their travel plans, or said when they would go on a honeymoon. They married May 19 at Windsor Castle.