Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace stands in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, within Kensington Gardens in London. It began as a Jacobean mansion built in 1605 and became a royal residence in the 17th century. William and Mary chose it in 1689 for its healthier setting away from the Thames. Sir Christopher Wren expanded the house, adding pavilions and formal gardens in the Dutch style. The palace served as the main residence of British monarchs for seventy years. Queen Mary oversaw the Queen’s Gallery and the Queen’s Staircase after a fire. William III died at the palace in 1702, and Queen Anne followed in 1714. The palace has housed many royals over the centuries. George I spent lavishly on new state rooms, hiring William Kent to paint elaborate trompe-l'œil ceilings and walls. Kent’s Grand Staircase features 45 courtiers from the Georgian court, including his mistress and the King’s Turkish servants. George II left the running of the palace to his wife Caroline, who redesigned Kensington Gardens with Charles Bridgeman. The gardens still include the Serpentine, the Round Pond, and the Broad Walk. Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, lived here in the 19th century and filled his apartments with books and clocks. Visitors find the State Rooms open to the public, managed by Historic Royal Palaces. The King’s Gallery and Cupola Room show Kent’s painted ceilings and gilded statuary. The King’s Grand Staircase displays his lively court scenes. The Orangery, built for Queen Anne, reflects her love of entertainment. The gardens remain a peaceful retreat with formal paths and clipped trees. The palace also holds paintings and artefacts from the Royal Collection. It remains a working royal residence for several members of the royal family.