Being able to visit inside Kensington Palace State Apartments is a rare treat for visitors to London.
It was the royal residence for the British Royal Family since the 17th century when it became the home of William III.
The Royal Family resided at Kensington Palace until the death of George II in 1760, when it was then occupied by more minor royal relatives.
In 1819, Princess Alexandrina Victoria was christened there, and it was there she lived until 1837 when she ascended to the throne as Queen Victoria.
The next famous group of Royals to occupy Kensington Palace was Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
Several apartments were converted to create a residence for them in 1981, and this remained the official residence for Princess Diana after her divorce as well.
Currently Kensington Palace is the official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
The State Rooms at Kensington palace are now managed by Historic Royal Palaces and are open to the public for tours.
The State Apartments are entered via the King’s Staircase, a grand entryway lined with murals by William Kent depicting scenes of members of the court of George I.
Other important places to see are the Cupola Room where Queen Victoria was christened, and the bedroom where she slept the night her uncle died and left her the rule of the kingdom.
The King’s Gallery is an enormous space lined with magnificent artwork; make sure you do not miss seeing the copy of Van Dyke’s portrait of Charles I on horseback hanging at the east end of the room.
A curious feature of the room is a dial over the fireplace which was designed for King William III to show which way the wind was blowing, and amazingly it still works even today.
The Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection is an amazing trip through the history of court costume from the 18th century to present day.
Touring inside Kensington Palace is a fascinating glimpse into the life and times of British Royalty.
Princess Diana Receives the Freedom of Northampton Wears Pink Suit June 1989
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Visiting Kensington Palace State Apartments
Kensington Palace State Apartments, Kensington Gardens, Kensington, W8 4PX
Telephone: 0844 482 7777
Email kensingtonpalace@hrp.org.uk
Opening Times
10am-6pm Daily, last admission 5pm
Ticket Prices
£12.50 (Adults), £11 (Concs), £6.25 (Under 16s), Free (Under 5s), £34 (Family)
Photo courtesy: stevecadman
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