Kensington Palace

London's Kensington Palace is an intimate residence that houses today's modern royals. Hidden away in London's Hyde Park, it began life as an early 17th century Jacobean mansion before becoming a palace fit for the monarchy.

Commissioned as a new home for King William III and Queen Mary II in 1689, Kensington was the brainchild of architect Sir Christopher Wren. Its construction was state of the art and its design was the height of sophistication. Two of the most famous royals in British history, Queen Victoria and Princess Diana have both lived at the palace. Today, half of Kensington Palace is open as a museum while the other half is split into private apartments for members of the royal family.