KENSINGTON PALACE

KENSINGTON PALACE

Kensington Palace became a royal residence in 1689 when William III and Mary II purchased Nottingham house and commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to trasform it into a palace.

The building has seen such events as the death of George II, the birth and accession of Queen Victoria and the public outpouring of grief following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Today the palace is home to several members of the Royal Family. The State Apartments, first opend by Queen Victoria in 1898, and the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection are open to the public.

Visittors may inspect fine embroidery and sumptuous velvets in the reconstructed tailor's showroom and dressmaker's workshop, examine glittering spools of gold and silver thread, fine feathered hats, fans and exquisite silver-buckled shoes. Then they may enjoy a dazzling selection of state and ceremonial dresses owned and worn by HM The Queen.

Highlights include a new display of royal children's clothes spanning 150 years from Princess Charlotte in 1810, to the present Prince of Wales. These delightful outfits represent significant moments or memories of royal childhood and include miniature coronation robes worn by an 11 year old Princess Elizabeth and her 7 year old sister, Princess Margaret, to their father's coronation in 1937.

See William Kent's fabulous trompe l'oeil ceiling and Old Masters from the Royal Collection displayed in the beautifully restored King's Gallery. Other highlights include the regal Cupola Room where Queen Victoria was baptised.