I tried an SPF loved by Princess Kate and Europe's Royals — I'm never going back

As a rather pale individual, I knew I had to get some good-quality sun protection before jetting off this summer. And with trips planned to Crete and Turkey, I was certainly going to need something strong to keep my skin protected from the Mediterranean summer sun.

Having tried numerous brands over the years, with varying results, I opted for something new, purchasing the Sun Sensitive Oil-Free Milk SPF50 from Lancaster of Monaco, a brand I had yet to try. Lancaster has the distinct accolade of being approved by not just one but two different princesses, with the Princess of Wales among its fans. Kate is said to use Lancaster's Sun Beauty Body Milk daily, not just in the hot summer months.

And it's not just English Princesses with another fan of the brand found in the late Princess Grace of Monaco, who was known to love both the brand's SPF and their skincare range.

Back in the 1970s, Lancaster even tailored an exclusive range for Grace, and stamped their bottles with the statement, "Appointed Supplier to Her Serene Highness Grace of Monaco."

It's easy to see why this brand has become popular among the royals, as I found it worked perfectly (even when I forgot to top up after going for swim).

Since starting to use this SPF, the only times I've burned are when I completely missed an area of my body (my fault there, not Lancaster's) and when I ran out of the bottle, which, again, was my fault.

I quickly purchased a bottle from my hotel shop, which sadly, did not stock Lancaster, which did not provide quite the same protection as, despite also being SPF50, and both my partner and I promptly ended up developing a sunburn.

Not only is Lancaster the best sun protection I've ever used, but it is also ocean-friendly, so you don't have to worry about the oils and chemicals impacting reefs or sea creatures if you opt for a dip in the sea, which is a must when visiting the Mediterranean.

On my way back to the UK, I picked up some of Lancaster's Golden Tan Maximizer After Sun Lotion, which has helped keep my tan going following my return to rainy Manchester. I have also since ordered some Sun Beauty Body Milk since the Sun Sensitive Oil-Free Milk has been out of stock recently, which I'm going to make use of once the summer sun returns.

And it's not just me singing the praises, one reviewer on LookFantastic wrote: "New fav sun cream, have enjoyed using this all holiday. It’s even light enough to use on my face and after my son’s sun cream gave him rashes we swapped to this. So even perfect for toddlers. Will repurchase for every holiday going forward."

While another added: "I am in love with this milk, not only does it offer sun protection but it also hydrates and helps prolong your holiday glow! I apply this every couple of hours when in direct sunshine to keep my skin protected. A must-have for a summer vacay!"

And a third wrote: "My partner and I swear by this sun cream. It applies so well, I’ve not been sunburnt once at all since using, this is a reorder from a smaller bottle. Smells amazing too!"