Kensington Palace

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Kensington Palace

Above: Kensington Palace, official residence of members of the Royal family, located on the edge of Hyde Park, in the borough of Kensington, appropriately, not knowing which came first the borough or the palace! Originally created for William III and his Queen Mary II towards the end of the 17th century and answers my earlier query as to which came first. Kensington was a small and remote village well away from the hustle and bustle of the city. In the sprawling open countryside of Kensington stood a house, ironically Nottingham House, owned by William's Secretary of State, from whom it was purchased, (possibly under some duress, agree to sell or else). Sir Christopher Wren, was then tasked with turning this modest house into a Royal Palace. The public are allowed to visit approximately one third of the overall buildings, the rest still official residence in use today. However, that does not detract from the fact that what we are allowed to see is well worth the visit.

Above: Pictures from the King and Queens apartments, the first grand, opulent, reflecting Williams status, the second plain, with wood replacing opulence. The Kings Presence Chamber first, then just one of the truly amazing ceilings seem throughout the kings apartments, and last the object on the plinths is a clock/musical box. The clock is only some 4inch round and in one of the faces but, the object stands some 6-7 feet in height. The music played is by Handel

Above: More examples of the richness of the kings apartments. None more so than the impressive Kings gallery.

Above: In stark contrast, we are now in the Queens apartments, wood panelling in most rooms, with simpler ceilings in pastel colours. Fully indicated in the contrasts between the King and the Queens galleries. The Queens gallery shown in the first picture, plain, arched ceiling, no adorments of any kind and more wood pannelling.

Another interesting display at the Palace, told the story of the young Victoria, who spent much of her early life, at least up until she was 18, when she became Queen, resident, under the ever watchful eye of her controlling mother, at Kensington. You can visit the room in which Victoria was born, which was fitting as we have now seen both rooms in which she was born and in which she died, the latter at her beloved Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. She led a very controlled life, actually sleeping in the same room as her mother for much of those early years. Her father had died when she was only two.

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