Kensington Palace is an elegant Jacobean mansion formerly known as Nottingham house located at Kensington Street at the heart of London just few blocks away from Buckingham palace. It came to the British royal family in the late 17^th century when King William III, who reigned with his wife Queen Mary II (daughter and successor of the exiled Stuart Monarch, King James II), bought the mansion from his secretary of state, the Earl of Nottingham.

It is one of the official royal residences of the British monarch supported by the public fund and maintained by the Royal Trust. Kensington is a magnificent royal palace with red brick wall composed of several grace-and-favor apartments occupied by members of the British royal family and selected servants who currently served the British royal court. The wrought iron gate at the entrance area dominated the sprawling lawn of the palace which has a wide pathway and several park benches. It has a 45-acre backyard with beautiful path of flowers and ornamental garden at the north part, private to the royal family. Among the royal residences, Kensington Palace remains the best residential choice among the British royals because of its ideal location and convenience at the heart of the metropolis.

The magnificent palace became the favorite of some British sovereigns including King William III his wife Queen Mary II, King George I and his son King George II and Queen Victoria. Victoria was born in Kensington Palace and lived there until she assumed the throne in 1837 on the death of her childless uncle William IV. It was in her Kensington Palace apartment that the news of her accession was relayed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Chamberlain.

King William III commissioned the architect Christopher Wren to renovate the mansion. The construction of the royal apartments for the King and Queen was the first task taken by Wren, followed by the Chapel royal, the great stairs and the chamber council. The renovation began by adding pavilions and blocks to its four corners, the main feature of the palace was the King’s Gallery located at the first level of the building, a fabulous room for royal collections. Queen Mary II died from small fox at her room in Kensington on December 1694 at the age of 32, eight years later, her husband King William III accidentally fell from his horse while riding on his way to Hampton Court, despite his terrible condition, the King insisted to bring him to Kensington where he died several weeks later.

During the reign of George I, the first of the Hanoverian monarchs (who came to the British throne as the nearest protestant heir of Queen Anne-younger sister of Queen Mary II), another renovation was made, several rooms were added including the elegant state rooms: the Privy chamber, the Cupola room and the Withdrawing room, it had elaborate paintings on the ceilings. However George I did not spend much of his time at the palace as he disliked formal gatherings, but his son and successor George II made Kensington his principal residence and spent much of his time at the comforts of his private apartment, however, he did not put additional structure of the palace during his long reign,  after the death of his wife, Queen Caroline, George II became disinterested and ordered other chambers to be locked up, his own death in 1760 marked the unimportance of Kensington to the lives of the succeeding monarchs.

The next occupant of the palace was Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent and fourth son of George III, after his marriage to Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, he ordered the renovation of the rooms on the two floors of the south-east corners and made it as their primary residence. His only child, Princess Victoria was born there in 1817 and baptized at the Cupola room, when the Duke of Kent died 9 months after Victoria’s birth, his wife, the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria stayed at Kensington until Victoria’s own accession in 1837. It was reported that Edward’s widow-the Duchess of Kent-had a poor relationship to his brother, King William IV, when the Duchess insisted her plan of make an over all renovation of the palace, William IV made a public comment of the palace distasteful renovation.

During Queen Victoria’s reign, state apartments, which were neglected by many monarchs since George II, achieved its full restoration after parliament was obliged to finance the renovation at the monarch’s request. It made open to the public which hung many portraits of the past rulers and contained fine art collections. During the reign of Victoria’s grandson George V, state apartments where filled with showcases of large collection of costumes and court dresses, coronation robes and other opulent objects.

Today, Kensington Palace is the home of Royal ceremonial dress collections and is open for public viewing, provided you have a ticket. Last year, 2007, on the 10^th death anniversary occasion of Diana, Princess of Wales the palace displayed her wardrobe and memorabilia for exhibition.

During World War I, the palace was used for various offices of charitable institutions. State apartments were badly damaged during the Second World War and were reopened for public entry on 1949.

Kensington Palace is a cluster of royal apartments occupied by some British royal family members as their official London residence. Queen Mary, consort of King George V, was born there in 1867, her mother, Princess Adelaide of Cambridge was the first cousin of Queen Victoria through King George III. After his resignation at the British Royal Navy because of bitter anti-German sentiments in England, Prince Louis of Battenberg who became Lord Louis Mountbatten, the first Marquess of Milford-haven, lived quietly in Kensington with his wife, Princess Victoria of Hesse, grand daughter of Queen Victoria, their grandson Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark (before his marriage to  Princess Elizabeth, Philip was advised to abandon his Greek royal title and his place in the Greek throne where he was 7^th in the line of succession at that time and switch his orthodox religion to Anglican to be more acceptable to the British public) lived in Kensington before his engagement to the future Queen Elizabeth II in 1947. Princess Alice, the Duchess of Gloucester, wife of Prince Henry (third son of King George V) lived for the rest of her life in Kensington until her death in 2003 at the age of 102. Princess Margaret, the only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II, made Kensington her primary residence. The present occupants of the palace are The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (the Queen’s cousin), the Duke and Duchess of Kent and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. The Duke of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent are sons of Prince George (youngest child of King George V).

The famous occupant of Kensington Palace was the late Princess of Wales, Diana. Several months after they married in 1981, Diana and Charles made Kensington Palace their London residence, occupying apartments located at the north-west part of the palace. They are direct neighbors of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. During the stormy relationship of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Kensington became the comforting arms to Diana, pouring her hatred and anguishes to the infidelity of Charles by staying at her study room. According to her loyal butler, Paul Burrell, Diana would sit at the sofa of her living room, crying and sobbing when Charles act of contempt was unbearable. Visiting friends of Charles and Diana called it the “madhouse” at the time when the couple still reeling at each other’s presence.  In 1990 Prince Charles moved out quietly from Kensington Palace and transferred to St. James Palace quarters and made Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire as his permanent residence joining Princess Diana only during official engagements.

The Princess of Wales was known for her kindness and affection, she personally wrote replies to various letters she received and would devote more time in her study room scribbling notes and thank you messages. When the divorce became final in 1996, Diana retained her apartments at Kensington because she was the mother of the future King (Prince William), her two sons William and Harry (2^nd and 3^rd in line of succession to the British throne) lived with her until her death in 1997.

At the time of the Princess’s death in August 31, 1997, she made an extensive renovation of her living room, replacing cushion and other interior decorations. Paul Burrell frequently visited Diana’s apartment at the time of her wake at St. James Palace, Prince Charles’s official London office near Buckingham Palace. After Diana’s burial, her Kensington apartment was dismantled and converted it to a place for public exhibition of royal collections during special occasions.  

Visits to Kensington Palace can be arranged. State apartments are on the first floor and unfortunately, visitors should climb at the grand stairs only, no lift is available. There are gift shops with in the palace where visitors can buy souvenir items, there is an audio guide script provided by a tour guide for visitors with hearing impediments. Chairs are provided on a first come first basis arrangement and could not be booked in advance. However, the palace is close from December 24 to December 26.

The following are the must-see and never to be missed areas inside Kensington Palace:

Princess Diana’s Fashion Exhibition

This is the area where the late Princess of Wales’s wardrobes displayed. This exhibition in the palace focuses on the development of Diana’s fashion style from romantic wardrobes to sophisticated dresses.

The King’s staircase

This staircase featured a magnificent walls and ceilings during the reign of King George I, his court and its character. It has famous faces of British royals carved on the walls.

The King’s Gallery

The largest and longest room of the state apartments, it displayed images, royal art collections, pictures and portraits of the royal family.

The Sunken Garden

Access in this area is free and does not require a palace ticket. The beautiful sunken garden is terraced with paving and ornamental flower beds surrounding an ornamental pond. It has a wide array of fabulous flowers like tulips, geraniums, wallflowers, begonias and others. It offers intimate feelings and tranquilities.

Queen Victoria’s Bedroom

This is the bedroom where Queen Victoria spent her last night as a Princess.

Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection

This area contains a stunning collection of royal dresses worn by British royal family members at various occasions.

Orangery Restaurant

Interior wall of the café has magnificent structures with ivory colored-walls and wonderful architectural design. It offers finest tea selections in London. It has also a range of premium wines and champagnes. Visitors can eat outside the restaurant and enjoys the scenic view of the garden and the palace. It has delicious homemade foods, light lunches, morning coffee, al fresco dining on the terrace.

Kensington Palace tickets can be booked on line. According to the website provided with the palace visits, children below 5 years old are admitted free. Schedule of visit is whole year round except for December 24 to 26.