Kensington Palace was closed for a £M12 restoration. It re-opened after about 3 months on March 25th 2012.
Hubs and I went there on a whim last Friday and we had to queue for over thirty minutes, maybe more, but I was happy people watching in line.
We bought our tickets and while I’ll willingly pay the concession price I am a little perturbed that no-one asks for proof of my old age!
Perhaps the young people behind the counter are just that…young! Everyone looks like they have one foot in the grave to their youthful eyes.
There were four tours, they were all self guided and we could take them all, or choose one or two depending on how long we were planning on staying.
We, poor old fogies, planned to see everything we could for the price and more if possible!
The main vestibule had portraits of royalty, the best one being Diana, a large black and white shot of her reclining casually on a couch with her hair swept back off her face and tucked behind her ears. I looked at the other princesses, Margaret, photographed by her husband Lord Snowdon, looked lovely, the Duchess of Cambridge was stunning with her Duke, but Diana’s charisma kept drawing me back.
Poor Kate has a tough act to follow.
Victoria’s rooms, she lived at the Palace for most of her life, had excerpts from her diary written on mirrors, in cabinets and along the walls, that I enjoyed reading. Her wedding dress was exquisite, she was tiny!
She was also very much in love with Albert who became her husband in 1840 and was her chief advisor. She plunged herself into mourning when he died in 1861 after only 21 years of marriage. She wore black for the rest of her life. They had nine children although Victoria was not keen on infants.
Until this year Victoria was the only British Monarch to have celebrated her Diamond Jubilee which took place in 1897. Our Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee this year amid great celebrations, and I’m going to be here to enjoy it!
The other apartments in the place were beautiful, filled with floating birds, holograms and whimsical adornments. Some rooms were dark and mysterious with subtle lighting. Others were light and airy with window seats and hidden speakers that whispered courtly gossip and scandals about the intrigue surrounding the court at the time.
On our way out, back through the vestibule again, we visited the temporary Princess Diana exhibit.
Kensington Palace was where she was living when she died on August 31st 1997. Eventually every piece of railing around the palace became covered with flowers which stretched out like a carpet into Kensington Gardens.
On the corridor walls leading to her exhibit was this magnificent wallpaper.
With me in front of it!
Oh it is so good to be English!
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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