Description of the attraction
Kensington Palace, one of the royal palaces located in London, has been the official royal residence since the 17th century. Today it is the official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Duke and Duchess of Kent, Prince Michael and Princess of Kent. Some of the rooms in the palace are open to the public.
The building, built in the 17th century, belonged to the Earl of Nottingham and was purchased from his heirs by William III. The king wanted to have a country residence near London, closer than Hampton Court, but outside the smoky city, because suffered from asthma. A special private road was built from the palace to Hyde Park, wide enough for several carriages to travel side by side. Part of this road is now preserved in Hyde Park called Rotten Row.
The famous English architect Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt and expanded the mansion, adding north and south wings and a passage tower. However, Kensington was perceived more as a private residence, and it was much more often called Kensington House than Kensington Palace.
Kensington's orchard and vegetable garden provided fresh vegetables and fruits from St. James's Court. St James's Palace to this day remains the nominally official residence of the British monarchs, although they have not resided there permanently since the 17th century. For many years, it was Kensington that was the favorite place of residence of kings and queens. Since the 18th century, mostly younger princes and members of the royal family have lived here. Kensington was considered the official residence of Princess Diana.
The palace is adjacent to Kensington Gardens. This is a park that was once part of Hyde Park, but regularly planned, decorated with fountains and sculptures. Unlike Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens is only open during daylight hours.
