Kensington
London
England
Circa Date: 1689, incorporating earlier elements, w/18th, 19th, 20th & 21st century alterations and additions
Status: Fully Extant
House Open to Public: Yes
Country House: No (Townhouse)
A circa 1819 hand-colored aquatint engraving of the palace
The palace from a 1911 postcard
An 1896 photo of the palace from "Round London"
The presence chamber as it appeared in the early 18th century. From the Dec 24, 1898 issue of "The Graphic."
The king's gallery as it appeared in the early 18th century. From the Dec 24, 1898 issue of "The Graphic."
The queen's gallery as it appeared in the early 18th century. From the Dec 24, 1898 issue of "The Graphic."
Queen Caroline's Drawing Room as it appeared in the early 18th century. From the Dec 24, 1898 issue of "The Graphic."
Princess Margaret's wedding dress and a copy of her wedding tiara
The Dutch Garden from a 1919 postcard
The orangery
Interior of the orangery
Earlier Houses: An earlier Jacobean house, called Nottingham House, existed on the site of today's palace. Elements of this house were incorporated into the current palace.
Built / Designed For: 1st Earl of Nottingham
House & Family History: King William III paid the earl of Nottingham 18,000 guineas in 1689 for Nottingham House, the earl's then Jacobean country house on the outskirts of London. William then hired Sir Christopher Wren to convert Nottingham House into a royal palace (he added for pavilions), circa 1689. William and his wife Mary always referred to the "sweet villa" as Kensington House. In 1690 the house burned down; the king and queen personally helped carry out furniture in the middle of the night. William Kent painted trompe l'oeil ceilings for George I; Kent's four grotesque ceilings at Kensington Palace are "...the first in the European post-Renaissance revival of the mode," according to John Harris, writing in "The Art Newspaper" in January 2004. George II died at Kensington Palace and Queen Victoria was born (in 1819) and grew up here (the princess was baptized in the Cupola Room). Queen Victoria began her reign with a Privy Council meeting in the Red Saloon in 1837. No sovereign has made their home here since 1760. Princess Diana and Princess Margaret both lived in grace and favour apartments in the palace.
Collections: Part of the private collection of Princess Margaret, formerly housed in her Kensington Palace apartment, was auctioned in London by Christie's on June 13-14, 2006. The sale of over 800 items included jewelry, Fabergé, furniture, silver, works of art and decorative objects. The proceeds of £13.6 million was used by her children to help pay off inheritance taxes on her estate (over £3 million), and to make charitable donations, including the Princess Margaret Fund at the Stroke Association. Historic Royal Palaces managed to buy a number of objects from the auction, which will be on display to the public at Kensington Palace in her former private apartment (Number 1-A). These include the Venetian blackamoor torchères (lot 680) that the princess displayed in her Drawing Room, the Royal Menu (lot 397) written by the princess's chef and showing her preferred choice of dishes, three bottles of Kensington Palace white wine (lot 789) made from grapes grown in her private garden at the palace, and a collection of Continental blue-opaline glass (lots 693 & 695) that the princess displayed throughout her apartment.
Architect: Christopher Wren
Date: Circa 1689-91Architect: William Kent
Date: 18th century
Title: Landmarks of Britain: The Five Hundred Places that Made Our History
Author: Aslet, Clive
Year Published: 2005
Reference: pg. 153
Publisher: London: Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN: 0340735104
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Ungrateful Daughters: The Stuart Princesses Who Stole Their Father's Crown
Author: Waller, Maureen
Year Published: 2002
Reference: pg. 279
Publisher: London: Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN: 0340794615
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Bombed Buildings of Britain: A Record of Architectural Casualties: 1940-41, The
Author: Richards, J.M. (Editor); Summerson, John (Notes)
Year Published: 1943
Reference: pg. 64
Publisher: New York: Oxford University Press
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade I
Park Listed: Not Listed
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham, until 1682. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: King William III and Queen Mary II, late 17th century. Kings George I and George II, 18th century. Queen Victoria, 19th century. Princess Diana, 20th century. Princess Margaret, 20th century.
Current Ownership Type: The Crown / Royal Family
Primary Current Ownership Use: Mixed Use
Ownership Details: Operated by Historic Royal Palaces as a visitor attraction, the palace also contains private apartments for members of the royal family.
House Open to Public: Yes
Phone: 02031-666-000
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.hrp.org.uk/
Historic Houses Member: No