Kensington Palace - birth place of Queen Victoria

Kensington Palace, London

Explore the birthplace of Queen Victoria and home of the young royals

 

2024 exhibition: UNTOLD LIVES: A PALACE AT WORK - Opens 14th March 2024

 

Explore the birthplace of Queen Victoria and home to young royals for over 300 years. Walk in the footsteps of royalty in Victoria's re-imagined childhood rooms and the magnificent King's State Apartments and Queen's State Apartments. Visit this charming and much loved royal Palace and gardens, birthplace of Queen Victoria and home to Diana, Princess of Wales.

 

Explore the birthplace of Queen Victoria and home to young royals for over 300 years. Walk in the footsteps of royalty in/Victoria's re-imagined childhood rooms and the magnificent King's State Apartments and Queen's State Apartments.

 

A new exhibition at Kensington Palace, UNTOLD LIVES: A PALACE AT WORK uncovers the forgotten stories of those who worked at the royal palaces over 300 years ago.

They were at the centre of royal life, but little is known about the servants and courtiers who ran royal palaces for centuries. From pages to cooks, from wetnurses to seamstresses, a host of workers managed life at Court and used their skills and expertise to look after the royal family and their homes.

 

Now, for the first time, the lives and contribution of these forgotten figures will be explored in a new exhibition, created by the independent charity, Historic Royal Palaces.

Untold Lives: A Palace at Work will shine a spotlight on the overlooked people from all walks of life who worked tirelessly — often behind-the-scenes — to maintain, protect and promote the monarch and the royal palaces.

 

Kensington Gardens began life as a King's playground; for over 100 years, the gardens were part of Hyde Park and hosted Henry VIII's huge deer chase.

 

The garden is terraced with paving and ornamental flower beds, surrounding an ornamental pond with fountains formed from reused 18th century water cisterns retrieved from the palace. Today, the garden continues the tradition of rotational flower displays in the spring and summer. Vibrant colours and exotic planting are on display from April to October when the garden is looking its best.

 

In 2017 the sunken garden was completely re-planted in white flowers for visitors to reflect and celebrate the life of Princess Diana. It took inspiration from Princess Diana’s dresses along with the famous Mario Testino photographs of the Princess. The garden continues to follow this peaceful and pastel coloured style to this day which visitors admire and enjoy.

 

Depart for Home Approx. 17.30

Kensington Palace