Kensington Palace

[sirhon11234]

In Paul Burrell second book he stated that her apartments were 8 and 9.

ABC News: Read an Excerpt of 'The Way We Were'

[georgiea]

Originally Posted by sirhon11234

In Paul Burrell second book he stated that her apartments were 8 and 9.

ABC News: Read an Excerpt of 'The Way We Were'

Thanks sirhon. I am glad she kept the whole apartment.

[CasiraghiTrio]

Well, everything I've read about it says that she did stay in 8-9 for the most of the separation years. In the last couple, or maybe three, years of her life, she lived in 7 though, at least according to what I've read. The Inquest proceedings record that her apt in that last year was 7. See the link I posted in a previous post. So maybe she only moved after or some time before the divorce. Who knows? Anyway, it doesn't matter. I'm sure it wasn't much difference, besides being smaller, and #7 adjoins 8-9 anyway despite the separate entrance and driveway. My theory is that she moved into #7 around the start of 1996, maybe 6-8 months before the divorce was final.

[Bella]

Doesn't Pss Alexandra have apartments at KP? I remember reading an interview a very very long time ago w Marina Mowatt (before she was Mowatt I believe) and she said she would invite her friends to visit her there and they were pretty shady looking, into the punk-goth look with piercings and leather and spiked hair and the security station would always have to call up to the apartments to verify they were welcome.

[Blakie]

The two black doors you could see across the courtyard were in fact the back doors! Diana's front door overlooks an oval drive and to the left of her front door is her private walled garden. If I can work out how to do it, I will post pics showing this!

[MelinaB.]

In June 2010 Uma Thurman & A.Busson will tie the knot and they chose Kensington palace for their wedding.I wonder how did they manage to "book" Diana's residence,I mean has something like this happened before?

[Skydragon]

To be correct it was never just Diana's residence, Kensington Palace has been a royal residence for over 300 years. IT was the Principal London residence of the monarch for both George I and George II, it was the birthplace of the future Queen Victoria. Princess Margaret lived there, so Diana was just one of many.

This is from the official KP guide

May I hold an event, such as a wedding or conference, at Kensington Palace?
Yes. Whatever your event, this magnificent palace makes an impressive location for entertaining and functions. For more information or to contact our knowledgeable events team, click here.

FAQs for Kensington Palace

[MelinaB.]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

To be correct it was never just Diana's residence, Kensington Palace has been a royal residence for over 300 years. IT was the Principal London residence of the monarch for both George I and George II, it was the birthplace of the future Queen Victoria. Princess Margaret lived there, so Diana was just one of many.

Dear Skydragon,I just wanted to avoid repeating "Kensington Palace" Thank you for the link,it would be interesting to know how much Mr.Busson is gonna pay.

[pacomartin]

Doesn't Pss Alexandra have apartments at KP? I remember reading an interview a very very long time ago w Marina Mowatt (before she was Mowatt I believe) and she said she would invite her friends to visit her there and they were pretty shady looking, into the punk-goth look with piercings and leather and spiked hair and the security station would always have to call up to the apartments to verify they were welcome.

Pss Alexandra has a very small grace and favor apartment house in St. James Palace. Her principal home in Richmond Park called Thatched_House_Lodge was purchased on a 150 year lease in 1963 when she got married. Her home in Richmond Park is surrounded by parkland, and is where General Eisenhower had his WW2 headquarters. There was some discussion of her selling her lease when she was widowed. Presumably she would retire to the smaller home in St. James Palace.

I have never seen a comprehensive list of royals who have lived in KP. I gather that Pss Marina moved there when Prince Michael was age 11 (1954), giving up her home in Belgravia Square. She lived there until her death when he was age 26 (1968). When he got married ten years later he was given a grace and favor apartment again. Supposedly the ministers toured the apartment in 2002 and demanded that he pay rent. The Queen absorbed his rent until this year.

To turn KP into a museum would be hugely expensive. It is on some of the most valuable real estate on the planet. I would think that leasing the apartments and offices out to "foreign embassies" and/or ambassador residences would be hugely profitable. There are already a number of embassies nearby on "Kensington Palace Gardens".

[lillas]

I can't beleive the Queen demanded that he pays rent! funny when you think about it really!
I think it would be a great idea for embassies to take those appartements as offices. The only problem with that is perhaps that each ambassy might have its own protocoles, traffic and staff... I don't think they can manadge being in the same building.

[Iluvbertie]

There was talk a few years ago about the US taking over the entire palace for their embassy but the Queen stopped that from happening.

Queen rejects US request to use Kensington Palace as embassy - Telegraph


This article does suggest that that option is still a possibility when all the current residents have moved out.

[lillas]

I am glad that the Queen refused the idea of having it occupied by the American Ambassy. I think that politically it is a bit misplaced to ask for such a historical monument to be occupied by another state.
Here is a video of the palace. Its architecture is simply extraordinary. A museum or occupation by members of the royal family is in my opinion the right solution for the Kensington palace.

YouTube - London Staedtereise - Tag 1 - 05 - Kensington Palace London

[cd255]

I don't see why they can't do both. Open part of it all year for tourists. Since it had Diana's apts. and office they can set aside that section in her memory (and display her dresses, memorabilia, etc) as well as let people tour nearby sections.
Then they can rent out specific rooms for receptions (ballroom?), meetings, etc. to the public.
And then have another part of it still used by minor royalty and have it blocked off to the public.
I agree they shouldn't use it as a foreign embassy. It's much too big for that anyway.

[Skydragon]

There would be huge security complications in what you suggest, IMO. I also think it would be totally inappropriate to allow any foreign power to use it.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

There would be huge security complications in what you suggest, IMO. I also think it would be totally inappropriate to allow any foreign power to use it.

But isn't this was is already done today. Parts of the Palace are open to the public. And in other parts the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince and Princess Michael of kent have their home.

[Skydragon]

Oops, my mistake, I misread the post.

[pacomartin]

I disagree that the palace wouldn't be ideal for foreign embassies and consulates. In particular it would be a great place for smaller countries particularly for Commonwealth Realms. The Kensington Palace Gardens is already jam packed with about 20 ambassador homes, embassies and consulates, and the London residence of the Saudi royal family. It would be a valuable revenue generator for the British government. The Palace must be pretty big because it has a footprint of well over 2 acres. I think the government would like this to be the last generation of royals to live in the palace.

I imagine that William and Harry have a lot of privacy in their apartments at Clarence House, and it will suffice as long as they are single. Princess Alexandra has an apartment in St. James Palace, and Charles used to have a place there after he moved out. There are a lot of options for William and Harry.

[muriel]

I think it is hardly appropriate that a former royal residence of great historical relevance is handed over to foreign governments to run and embassie or high commissions.

[pacomartin]

I was thinking that it might be appropriate for Commonwealth Realms and potentially other commonwealth countries. I know that Canada still has their chancery in the old American Embassy (built in 1938 and occupied by Canada since 1960). They are in the process of selling the building and moving to Trafalgar Square. I really wasn't thinking of Guatemala and Peru.
I just believe that parliament wants to make this building more profitable, and less of an apartment for royal cousins and aunts. I will be suprised if Beatrice and Eugenie, James and Louise get the same arrangements that were given to their relatives from two generations ago.

[Iluvbertie]

Let's not forget that embassies and High Commissions are the property of the country who uses them not the property of the country in which they are situated so that if Kensington Palace was to become an embassy or High Commission of one or more countries it would cease to belong to Britain.