Ever wondered what secrets Kensington Palace holds behind its grand facade? Kensington Palace is more than just a beautiful building. It is a residence steeped in royal history. For over 300 years, Kensington Palace has been a home to British royals. Today, it is the official London residence for some royals. The Prince and Princess of Wales reside here. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester also call Kensington Palace home. As do the Duke and Duchess of Kent. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent also live here with Princess Eugenie, her husband, and their two sons.
Originally, Kensington Palace was a two-story Jacobean mansion. Sir George Coppin built it in 1605. It was in the village of Kensington. In 1689, King William III and Queen Mary II bought Nottingham House. William suffered from asthma. Whitehall Palace near the River Thames was not good for his health. They tasked Sir Christopher Wren with expanding the house. Wren added three-story pavilions at each corner. This provided more space for the King, Queen, and their attendants. The Queen’s Apartments were in the northwest pavilion. The King’s Apartments were in the southeast.
Kensington Palace became a favored residence of British monarchs for the next 70 years. However, the official seat of the Court remained at St. James’s Palace. Queen Mary extended her apartments, building the Queen’s Gallery. After a fire in 1691, the King’s Staircase was rebuilt in marble. A Guard Chamber was also constructed. William had the South Front built. Nicholas Hawksmoor designed it. This included the King’s Gallery. He hung many works from his picture collection there. Mary II died of smallpox at Kensington Palace in 1694. In 1702, William fell from a horse at Hampton Court. He was brought to Kensington Palace. He died shortly after from pneumonia.
After William III’s death, Queen Anne took up residence. She had Christopher Wren complete the extensions. These became the Queen’s Apartments. They included the Queen’s Entrance. The staircase was designed with shallow steps. This allowed Anne to walk down gracefully. Queen Anne’s most notable contribution was the gardens. She commissioned the Orangery. Hawksmoor designed it, and John Vanbrugh modified it. Henry Wise, the royal gardener, laid out a baroque parterre.
Kensington Palace was the setting for the final argument between Queen Anne and Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. Queen Anne died here on 1 August 1714.
King George I spent lavishly on new royal apartments. He created three new state rooms. These are the Privy Chamber, the Cupola Room, and the Withdrawing Room. William Kent decorated the state rooms. He used elaborately painted trompe-l’œil ceilings and walls. George I enlarged the palace with an apartment for his mistress.
The last reigning monarch to use Kensington Palace was George II. He left the running of the palace to his wife, Caroline of Ansbach. Charles Bridgeman redesigned Kensington Gardens. His remaining features are the Serpentine, the Round Pond, and the Broad Walk. George II died at Kensington Palace on 25 October 1760.
With the accession of George III in 1760, Kensington Palace was used for minor royalty. Queen Victoria was born and raised here. Princess Diana also made Kensington Palace her home.
Today, Kensington Palace’s State Rooms are open to the public. Historic Royal Palaces manages them. Kensington Palace showcases numerous paintings and other artifacts from the Royal Collection. When you visit Kensington Palace, you are walking through history. You are experiencing the lives of royals who shaped Britain. It is a journey through time within these very walls.