 |
| The south-front gate of Kensington Palace. Image: Wikipedia |
Kensington Palace is one of the most
recognizable royal residences. Home to kings and queens of the past, the palace retains its strong connection to the Royal Family with a number of princes
and princesses still calling it home. From its humble beginnings as a Jacobean
home, the palace is now celebrated for its rich history that never fails to awe
visitors who step into its majestic rooms. If you are planning to visit
Kensington Palace, here are the 13 facts you’ll find interesting to know about
Kensington Palace.
 |
| Kensington Palace from the south by Jan Kip. Image: Wikipedia. |
In 1605, a Jacobean house was built for
businessman and politician Sir Walter Cope on the present site of Kensington
Palace. It was eventually called Nottingham House.
William
and Mary were the first sovereigns to live there
 |
| William and Mary by Wallerant Vaillant, after Unknown artist, c1677. Image: National Portrait Gallery |
Queen
Anne added the Orangery
 |
| The Kensington Palace Orangery. Image: Wikipedia |
Queen Anne added several new
rooms in the palace and greatly improved the gardens. All these cost the queen some £26,000.
George
I expanded the palace
 |
| King George I. Image: Wikipedia |
The extensive rebuilding work was done
under George I. He only had little use of the palace due to the
renovations.
George
II was the last sovereign to reside there
 |
| King George II. Image: Wikipedia |
King George II chose Kensington Palace as
his primary residence until his untimely death in 1760.
A queen
was born in the palace
 |
| Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent. Image: Wikipedia |
King George III’s son, Edward, Duke of Kent
lived on two floors of rooms in the south-east corner of the palace. Here, her
daughter, the future Queen Victoria was born.
A
royal feud occurred, here, too
In the early 1830s, the Duchess of Kent
extended her apartments at Kensington. King William IV was unimpressed. He
publicly complained that this had been done 'not only without his consent, but
contrary to his commands'.
Queen
Victoria was informed of her accession as Queen at Kensington Palace
 |
| This painting by Henry Tanworth Wells shows Queen Victoria receiving the news of her accession. |
On June 20, 1837, Princess Victoria was awakened early in the morning with the news that she had just become the queen. She eventually moved to Buckingham Palace.
Queen
Victoria saved the palace from destruction
 |
| The King's Gallery in the 1880s. Image: Cote de Texas. |
Queen Victoria saved the palace from
neglect and disrepair persuading Parliament to foot the bill of its
restoration. In 1899, the State Apartments were opened to the public.
The
London Museum once called Kensington Palace home
 |
| An early photograph of the front side of Kensington Palace. Image: Cote de Texas. |
With the help of Queen Mary, the palace’s
state apartments temporarily accommodated the London Museum from 1911 until
1914.
It
was… and still remains the Aunt’s Heap
 |
| Princess Louise's statue of Queen Victoria at Kensington Palace. Image: Wikipedia. |
During the 1920s and 1930s, many members of the
royal family lived in the palace. Edward VIII, thus, nicknamed the palace "the aunt heap.
It survived
World War II
 |
| Queen Victoria's restored room. Image: Cote de Texas. |
The palace, particularly the Queen's Apartments, was severely damaged during the
London Blitz in 1940.
It
was home to “Princess Diana”
 |
| Flowers and tributes left at Kensington Palace after the death of Princess Diana. Image: Wikipedia. |
Diana, Princess of Wales, was a resident of the palace from 1981 to 1997.
…
and the adorable Cambridges
 |
| The Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. Image: Wikipedia. |
The palace is home to the Duke and Duchess
of Cambridge and their family since 2013.
Planning to spend a holiday near Kensington Palace? Check out some of the best hotels, inns, and B&Bs here.
Planning to spend a holiday near Kensington Palace? Check out some of the best hotels, inns, and B&Bs here.
.png)
0 Comments