Art, literature & culture

Construction of Kensington Palace

1605

Kensington Palace is a royal residence in Kensington Gardens in west London. It began as a Jacobean country house, then called Nottingham House, and was bought by William III and Mary II in 1689, who chose it for its clean air, which suited the king's asthma. Sir Christopher Wren enlarged the building for them, and later Hanoverian monarchs added grand state rooms. Queen Victoria was born and spent her childhood there, and in the twentieth century Princess Diana lived in an apartment in the palace. Part of it is open to visitors as a historic royal palace, while other sections remain private homes of members of the royal family.

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This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 17th century.