Kensington Palace has been the official residence of the English kings since the 17th century. Today part of the palace is open to the public.
History of the Palace
It was built in the 17th century and belonged to the Earl of Nottingham at that time. Later, the palace was bought from the heirs of Count William III, who needed a country residence not far from the capital - closer than the famous Hampton Court, but at the same time outside the city, which even then had a lot of smoke and burning, and the king suffered from asthma. From the palace to Hyde Park, a private road was laid, quite wide, several carriages could ride along it. Part of the road is still preserved today in Hyde Park. It's called Rotten Row.
For many years, Kensington Palace was the favorite residence of the kings of England. From the beginning of the 18th century, junior princes and other members of the royal family began to live here. At one time, Kensington Palace, the photo of which can be seen in the official chronicle, was the residence of Princess Diana.
Interior decoration
Kensington Palace in London keeps the history of three centuries of the British monarchy and its most prominent representatives - Princess Diana and the QueenVictoria, who was born in this palace and spent the first twenty years of her life there. Today, a permanent exhibition is devoted to this. On it you can get acquainted with the hobbies of the future ruler, see the toys she played with as a child, and even see her toilets.
One of the most famous sights of Kensigton Palace is the Royal Staircase. It features unique paintings on the walls. On them you can see how King George I rested surrounded by his court. Among the courtiers, the artist depicted himself in a brown turban and with a palette of colors. It is curious that the paintings depict the servants of the king of Turkey, the "wild boy" who was found in the forests of Germany, yeoman guards.
The Royal Staircase leads to the pompous and luxurious apartments of the king, or to the Great Chambers, as they are more commonly called. Kensington Palace inside is a real museum, which contains priceless relics of the British crown.
Reception hall
Kensington Palace in London keeps one of the most important relics - a unique gilded chair of the son of George II - Frederick. It is kept in the reception area. There is a Chamber of Secrets, decorated with magnificent tapestries. There is also the Round Room. It is considered the most richly decorated in the palace. The culmination of the enfilade of palace halls is considered to be the Royal Drawing Room, which was visited by the courtiers when meeting with the king. According to legend, Wilhelm III played in this gallerywith his own nephew in the soldiers. Here he caught a bad cold, fell ill with pneumonia and died prematurely.
Queen's Apartments
Every year, thousands of tourists seek to visit Kensington Palace. The Queen's Apartments are a popular attraction.
These are private rooms created in the 17th century for the wife of King William III - Mary II. The ruling couple went to live in the palace to be away from the hustle and bustle of the capital.
Since those very ancient times, the chambers have not changed much, so visitors have a unique opportunity to see the interiors in which the royal couple received guests, rested, and had fun.
The part of the palace that belonged to the Queen starts from the Queen's stairs. It is decorated a little simpler than the King's staircase. Going down it, the queen immediately found herself in her favorite gardens, made in the Dutch style. One floor above is a gallery created for the rest of Mary II.
Here she was surrounded by embroidered silk curtains, Turkish carpets, magnificent oriental porcelain. The Queen loved to read and do needlework in this luxurious room.
In the Queen's gallery you can see a portrait of Peter I. This is the work of the artist Gottfried Kneller. The Russian Tsar visited Kensington Palace (Great Britain). The great emperor admired European progress.
Kings wardrobe
Entering the next door, you will enter the royal wardrobe. His story is mostly connected with the name of the youngerMary's sister - Anne Stewart.
Living room
This royal room reflects the crowned lady's passion for oriental porcelain. Here is a unique collection of exhibits brought from China and Japan.
Kensington Palace - Modern History
In our time, the palace was the residence of one of the most beautiful couples of the royal family - Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The magnificent Lady Di lived here after her divorce and until her most tragic death. What is surprising: little princes went to the neighboring kindergarten. The palace apartments, which are considered private, belong to the Royal Court, while the state rooms are open to tourists and are maintained by a special agency that takes care of all royal palaces.
Park
Even if you can't go to Kensington Palace, the photo of which you can see in our article, take a walk in the park surrounding the palace. It is adjacent to the world-famous Hyde Park and is one of the most picturesque royal parks. It's not as flowery as Regent's Park, but it has some really cute corners.
The park has its own greenhouse, where you can get acquainted with the ritual of English tea drinking, here you can also walk along the shady alleys and by the large pond. For its shape, it received the name Round.
This amazing park features a statue of Peter Pan and a playground guarded by a 900-year-old oak tree with elves living on it. The grandiose building of the park (of course, after the palace) is the memorial of Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. By her order, after the death of her husband, a 54-meter statue was erected, which amazes with expensive finishes. The memorial took about 10 years to build and cost over £10 million in today's equivalent. Its opening took place in 1872.
Next to the memorial is the famous Royal Albert Hall. It hosts all the important cultural events of the British capital, secular concerts. You can also enter the Albert Hall with a tour group. It will cost you £12.
You can see Kensington Palace for £15 (children under 16 can enter for free). This magnificent palace and Albert Hall are among the most visited attractions in the British capital.
Kensington Palace. Kate Middleton
After adding to the royal family (the birth of Prince George), Kate Middleton and Prince William decided to move into a 20-room apartment at Kensington Palace.
But unexpectedly, the young family faced a problem - the building has not been seriously renovated since the 60s of the last century. The celebrity family decided to refurbish this luxurious but dilapidated home before moving in.
Construction firms received a million and a half pounds for their work. Part of the huge amount was taken from the state treasury. The royal family spentown funds. I must say that the amount turned out to be considerable. It could have become even larger if Elizabeth had not generously granted Catherine and William the right to choose any furniture and paintings from the royal collection. But the young mistress did not want to turn her future apartments, Kensington Palace, into a museum. Kate Middleton decided to add some variety to the interior. She complemented antique furniture with deliberately modern pieces.
According to many, such a mix looks rather risky, but this effect was achieved by the Duchess of Cambridge. Fun fact: Kate was determined not to hire a professional designer, so the interior of the new home is a figment of her imagination. As a result, in the living room of Kensington Palace, unique antique chairs and tables sit side by side with brightly colored faux-leather cushions purchased from a nearby supermarket. Naturally, as soon as it became known what item the duchess had honored with her attention (for example, a decorative pillow for 10 pounds), sales of this item skyrocketed.
