See Kensington Palace

One of the lesser known, and slightly cheaper to visit, of the royal palaces, Kensington Palace is set at the Westerly end of Kensington Gardens.


Your author slipped into a Diana trap earlier in the week, and it seems he has returned today as more recently, the palace has been where they have put princesses before they die. It was home to Princess Diana up until her death in 1997, Princess Margaret until she died in 2002, and Princess Alice until she passed away in 2004.

As with many of these palaces, it's only the State Rooms that are open to the public and there's a cost of £12.50 attached. Whilst this gets you in to see a ‘Last debutantes' and a 'Diana, fashion and style’ exhibition, this will surely be full of the kind of upper class fawning which your author finds to be a bit of a turn-off.

Still, never mind. It's an interesting building, having been built in the 17th-century and taken over by an asthmatic William III shortly afterwards as the King wanted a house away from the smoky air of the capital. Many other royals have lived here since and it was in a bedroom at Kensington Palace on 20th June 1837 that an 18 year old Princess Victoria awoke to the news that she was Queen.

Kensington Palace is open daily 10am until 6pm. For more information, visit http://www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPalace/

_{^Picture by wolfsavard^}