Kensington Palace had its start as the small Nottingham House villa, which was picked by William III and Mary II in 1689 to be a country retreat. Its proximity to Parliament but distance from the negative aspects of the city were what made the building attractive to them. Over time, the building was transformed into a palace for royals, including Queen Caroline, Queen Victoria, Diana, Princess of Wales, and now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The gardens were transformed by Queen Anne, and George I filled the building with fine art. In 1899, the State Apartments were opened by Victoria, and the building today remains the site of a museum and garden tours.

“Growth of a Victorian Suburb.” The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/vmhistory/general/vm_hs_p10.asp. Accessed 18 April 2023.
Hyland, Catherine. Kensington Palace as it stands today. 2019. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/design/inside-room-kensington-palace-queen-victoria-grew/. Accessed 18 April 2023.
“Metropolitan Boroughs.” The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/vmdemocracy/general/vm_ld_p11.asp. Accessed 18 April 2023.
“The Story of Kensington Palace.” Historic Royal Palaces, https://www.hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/history-and-stories/the-story-of-kensington-palace/. Accessed 18 April 2023.