Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace is well known internationally as the London residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Diana, until their divorce in 1991, and then as Diana’s residence. After her death in 1997, the palace became a kind of mausoleum for the princess: piles of flowers often lie at the gates. Between 1689 and 1696, the mansion was rebuilt under the direction of Christopher Wren into a palace, and has since been owned by the royal family for 300 years.
General information
Before George III moved to Buckingham Palace in 1760, this was the main royal residence in London. At the request of William III and Mary II, Wren remodeled, adding a couple of apartments and separate entrances. In the 18th century, Kensington Palace added the Parade Rooms with superb wall paintings by William Kent, a gallery of royal portraits and magnificent classical-style furniture. All this is included in the program of touring the palace, extremely popular with tourists. In addition, tourists are shown a collection of courtiers’ dresses and costumes and military uniforms from 1760 to the present day.
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On the morning of June 20, 1837, 18-year-old Princess Victoria was awakened early and informed that her uncle William IV had passed away and she had become head of state. Near Kensington Palace, facing Round Pond, stands a touching statue depicting the girl queen.
.As you stroll through Palace Park, you can take tea in the Orangery, designed by Wren’s pupil Nicholas Hawke-smoor and decorated by the famous Dutch-born carver Greenling Gibbons.
.Tel:087-0751 5170.Closed on Sat. and Sun.Entrance feeHigh Street Kensington or Queensway tube station
