British Isles Friday

Joy's Book Blog is hosting this weekly meme.

May 2010 - London England

Kensington Palace has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century, and is the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

 This link will take you to a great article showing inside the palace.

Today, the State Rooms are open to the public and managed by the independent charity Historic Royal Palaces, a nonprofit organization that does not receive public funds. The offices and private accommodation areas of the Palace remain the responsibility of the Royal Household and are maintained by the Royal Household Property Section.

In 1981, in the part of the palace that George I had built for the Duchess of Kendal, Apartments 8 and 9 were combined to create the London residence of the newly married Prince of Wales and his wife, Diana, and it remained the official residence of Diana after their divorce until her death. Her sons, Princes William and Harry were raised in Kensington Palace and went to local nursery and pre-preparatory schools in Notting Hill, which is a short drive away. According to Andrew Morton, the palace was a "children's paradise" with its long passageways, a helicopter pad, and many outdoor gardens, including one on the roof where the family spent many hours.

Queen Victoria sculpted by her daughter Princess Louise.

I snapped a few photos before being told sternly that no photos were allowed.

The lion and unicorn holding the Hanoverian coat of arms on top of the gate piers are made of Coade Stone. Coade stone is an artificial stone and is, in fact, a ceramic. More durable and weather resistant than natural stone, it was used extensively by leading architects of the day, such as Robert Adam, for delicate and detailed exterior decoration. The Coade factory in Lambeth was run by Eleanor Coade.

Images and information below found at My Luscious Life.

Kensington Palace: Who’s where

1. Apartment 1: A 21-room home to the Duke of Gloucester, the Queen’s first cousin, and his wife.

2. Apartment 1A: William, Kate and George’s new home.

3. State Apartments: These apartments are available for hire, with prices from £6,500 per room.

4. Apartment 10: This five-bedroom, five-reception-room is home to Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

5. Apartments 8 and 9: Princess Diana’s official residence before her death.

6. Wren House: The home of the Queen’s cousin, Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent.

7. Apartment 4A: A modest living quarter formerly used by the Queen’s director of property services.

8. Apartment 4B: Once home to Prince Charles’ former private secretary, Sir Michael Peat. He used to pay £47,000 of his £250,000-a-year salary to live there.

9. Nottingham Cottage: William and Kate’s current home. Prince Harry will move in once the couple move into Apartment 1A.

10. The other apartments: Small apartments occupied by royal employees, who pay a small proportion of their salary in rent.