Kensington Palace

Originally known as Nottingham House, this historic site was purchased by King William III and Queen Mary II in 1689. They sought a healthier environment away from the damp, smoggy air of Whitehall Palace near the Thames. Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of St. Paul's Cathedral, was commissioned to expand the house into a royal residence, creating the elegant brick structure that serves as the core of the palace we see today. For the next century, it remained the preferred residence of British monarchs. The palace is perhaps most famous as the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria. Born here in 1819, Victoria lived a sheltered and highly controlled life under the strict 'Kensington System' devised by her mother and Sir John Conroy. It was within these walls, in the early morning of June 20, 1837, that the eighteen-year-old princess was informed of her uncle's death and her accession to the throne, marking the beginning of her legendary 63-year reign. Since the mid-20th century, Kensington Palace has served as a residence for various members of the Royal Family. It was the long-time home of Princess Margaret and later became the official residence of Diana, Princess of Wales. Today, while parts of the palace are open to the public as a museum managed by Historic Royal Palaces, other wings remain a private working residence for the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, continuing its legacy as a living royal home.