Kensington Palace

Question 1

When purchased, and by whom?

Answer 1

1689 by William III and Mary II

Question 2

Why purchased?

Answer 2

William suffered from Asthma and the air at Whitehall was too polluted from coal smoke.

Question 3

When originally built?

Answer 3

1605 as Nottingham House. Then developed by a series of monarchs into a fashionable home for Britain’s young royal families.

Question 4

Who famous born here, and when?

Answer 4

• Queen Victoria
• 1819

Question 5

Who designed the ‘Kensington System’?

Answer 5

Victoria mother and Sir John Conroy.

Question 6

What was the Kensington System?

Answer 6

Victoria
- never allowed alone
- under constant supervision
- socially isolated

Question 7

What did Victoria do when she became Queen?

Answer 7

• Flee to Buckingham Palace
• Banish Sir John Conroy from her presence
• Only communicate with her mother by letter, even if she was in the same building.

Question 8

Royal Apartments

Answer 8

• Hosted various minor royals, dowagers and widowed princesses in the 18th and 19th Century.
• Will and Kate have their offices and London residence here, along with various other royals.

Question 9

Late 1800s - what happened?

Answer 9

Was near derelict, with a leaking roof and crumbling walls. A proposed demolition caused a public outcry, and Queen Victoria paid for its restoration.

Question 10

Princess Margaret

Answer 10

• Lived here until 2002.
• Lavish lifestyle and stylish furnishings - including works by Picasso and an extensive drinks cabinet.

Question 11

Princess Diana

Answer 11

Lived here from 1981 to her death in 1997.

Question 12

What happened when Diana died?

Answer 12

The palace became a spontaneous memorial site, buried under a sea of flowers.

Question 13

What to see - highlights

Answer 13

• Kings State Apartments
• Queens State Apartments
• Queen Victoria childhood

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Question 14

What to see also

Answer 14

• The Jewel Room
• The Sunken Garden (with Diana statue)