Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace has been an official residence for members of the British royal family since the late 17th century and stands at the western edge of Kensington Gardens. William III and Mary II bought the predecessor house from Sir George Coppin in 1689 because the asthmatic king could no longer bear the marsh air of Whitehall; Christopher Wren rebuilt it into a baroque town residence. Queen Victoria was born here in 1819 and woken in 1837 with news of her accession; later Princess Diana lived here until her death in 1997. Today the Prince and Princess of Wales reside in adjoining Apartment 1A. Open to visitors are the King's State Apartments with William Kent ceilings, the Queen's Apartments and the Diana collection. Outside the Sunken Garden where Diana walked, Ian Rank-Broadley's bronze statue of her now stands.