Visit Kensington Palace: the 6 secrets of the place

Nestled on the west side of Hyde Park, a visit to Kensington Palace is a must for all visitors to the English capital.

Managed by the Historic Royal Palaces charity, Kensington Palace is London's third most popular palace.

Today, I'm revealing a few facts about the place.

Visit Kensington Palace: article summary

Visit Kensington Palace: Queen Victoria's home

Queen Victoria's long and fascinating life began at Kensington Palace, and today visitors can explore her early life through exhibitions. Her childhood was governed by a strict set of rules known as the Kensington system.

The Kensington system was designed to weaken Princess Victoria and make her dependent on her mother. This was to ensure that she would not turn against her mother later in life by allying herself with relatives of the vast and powerful House of Hanover.

The Kensington system backfired spectacularly and became the cornerstone of Victoria's rise as a strong, independent queen.

A place full of apartments

As well as being home to the young Queen Victoria, Kensington Palace has welcomed many young members of the royal family over the centuries.

Princess Margaret was infamous for throwing lavish parties at Kensington Palace, attended by celebrities such as :

• visit Beatles
• Peter Sellers
• Margot Fonteyn
• Elizabeth Taylor.

Today, the apartments are home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The Duke's mother, Princess Diana, also had her own apartment, which is now home to the Duke and Duchess. remained empty for years after his death.

A visit to Kensington Palace: a superstition about the local women

Kensington Palace has an eventful history with its female visitors and residents. In 1694, Queen Mary II contracted smallpox.

To prevent the spread of the disease, she isolated herself, allowing only those who had survived to care for her. Her self-sacrifice certainly saved the king, as well as the other residents of the palace.

Queen Anne, sister of Mary II, became pregnant 17 times by her husband, Prince George of Denmark, while living at the palace. Sadly, however, she died without any surviving royal children.

Queen Caroline died there in 1737 after her eighth pregnancy. Complications after delivery led to umbilical hernia.

In December 1816, Harriet Westbrook, wife of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, was found drowned in the Serpentine.

In 2010, a woman was found frozen to death in the palace gardens under mysterious circumstances.

A residence that hasn't welcomed a monarch for two centuries

When George II died of a heart attack in 1760, no reigning monarch slept within the palace walls for almost 70 years. His grandson, George III, disliked the palace and never stayed. No reigning monarch has lived there since.

Visit Kensington Palace: a source of literary inspiration

Barrie, author of the Peter Pan stories, was inspired by Kensington Gardens. Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens was written in 1906 and is a prequel story to the Disney film version of the character.

Set in and around Kensington Gardens, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens tells the story of of a boy who didn't want to grow up and the price he pays for it. Many parts of the gardens, including Serpentine Lake, feature in the story.

Barrie, who lived on Bayswater Road, often visited the gardens. He commissioned the Peter Pan statue you see there today.

It is possible to rent Kensington Palace

You can live like a royal for a day by renting Kensington Palace. It hosts auctions, concerts, charity events and even weddings. So, if you're looking for your wedding venue, take a look at Kensington Palace.

In 2015, fashion designer Nicky Hilton married James Rothschild in the Orangery in the gardens of Kensington Palace.

During your visit to London, I recommend a stop at Kensington Palace. It's the perfect way to round off your visit to the city and discover one of London's most beautiful palaces.

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