uktreasurehouses

52. Kensington Palace:


This is a Palace where many Royals have lived for centuries and continue to do so. It lies at the West end of Hyde Park, in the city of London. Architecturally it is a Jacobean mansion and was the favorite London Royal Palace until 1760. It was bought in 1689 by William III for his Secretary of State, the Earl of Nottingham and was originally known as Nottingham Palace. Christopher Wren added Royal Apartments, a council chamber, Chapel Royal and the magnificent Grand Staircase. Until the death of George II in 1760 it had been the favorite Royal residence. With Queen Victoria’s ascension in 1837 she left Kensington Palace for Buckingham Palace and never lived there again. Since her time Buckingham Palace has been the London residence of the Sovereign.

Kennsington Palace is the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria and mother Charlotte. In the recent past Princess Margaret and Alice, Duchess of Gloucester lived there, as was Diana, Princess of Wales at the time of her death in 1997. It is up against its front gates that the tremendous number of flowers and good wishes were placed at the time of her death and where people came to mourn. Today Royals continue to live there: The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. It is open to the public. My wife and I have visited here many times.

See www.royal.gov.uk/output/page563.asp for directions, open times, tickets and more information.