Morning at Kensington Palace
Yesterday morning we visited the lovely Kensington Palace. What a place! Hard to believe it started out as just a mansion before King William III and Queen Mary II decided to turn it into a proper palace in 1689. They brought in Sir Christopher Wren to redesign and expand it, and the result is a stunning royal residence with centuries of history packed into every corner.
The palace walks you through so many chapters of the British monarchy, from William and Mary all the way through to Queen Victoria’s early years. One of the sweetest details was learning about Victoria’s beloved King Charles Spaniel, Dash. He was her constant companion during her lonely childhood, and you can really feel how much he meant to her. There’s even a statue and inscription dedicated to him in the gardens.
Of course, Kensington Palace has also been home to more recent royals, including Princess Diana and Prince Charles, and now Prince William and Princess Catherine. It’s amazing how the palace blends the old and the new. You’re walking through history but also seeing the place where modern royal life still unfolds.
We couldn’t get over the strict set of rules Queen Victoria had to live by growing up under the so called Kensington System. It’s wild to imagine how controlled her life was, even as a young girl destined to be queen.
We took a stroll through Kensington Gardens and saw the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect blue skies, fresh air, and a lovely end to a truly royal morning.
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