The Asian Age

Kensington Palace: From ‘ aunt heap’ to young royal hangout

-

London: Kensington Palace, the marital home of Prince Harry and his bride- to- be Meghan Markle, plays host to several royals including his brother Prince William’s growing clan.

An imposing red- brick mansion adjoining central London’s Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, the palace and its grounds are home to 15 members of the royal family.

They include Queen Elizabeth II’s cousins Prince Richard, Prince Edward and Prince Michael, who are all aged over 70. But the balance is gradually shifting towards the younger royals, who are making the palace their favourite nest.

Princess Eugenie, 28, the younger daughter of the monarch’s second son Prince Andrew, is due to marry her socialite fiance Jack Brooksbank in October. They are currently making a marital home of Ivy Cottage, joining her cousins William and Harry on the list of residents.

Originally a simple manor, the palace was acquired in 1689 by King William III who, concerned about his fragile health due to asthma, chose the building because it was located in lush greenery, at the time away from the polluted city. After the death of king George II in 1760, Kensington Palace was made available to secondary members of the royal family. It was there that queen Victoria was born and grew up — famously in virtual isolation — before her accession to the throne in 1837. She later resisted attempts to turn the palace into a museum.

 ??  ?? Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India