Kensington Palace has been a royal home for over 300 years
and parts of the palace remain a private residence for
members of the Royal Family today. The magnificent State
Apartments and the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection,
which includes dresses worn by HM Queen Elizabeth II and
Diana, Princess of Wales, are open to the public.
Kensington Palace was once a favoured home of some of
Britain's most famous kings and queens and the setting for
many great events and dramas in royal history. Originally
a private country house, the building was acquired by
William III and Mary II in 1689 and was adapted for royal
residence by Sir Christopher Wren. For the next 70 years
the palace was at the centre of the life and government of
the kingdom and played host to the courts of William and
Mary, Queen Anne, George I and George II. In the 19th
century Kensington was the birthplace and childhood home
of Princess Victoria (later Queen Victoria).
Kensington's best known resident in recent years was
Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-97) who occupied apartments
in the north-west part of the palace from 1981 to 1997.
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