Perhaps the most desirable address in all of London, apart from Buckingham Palace of course, is Kensington Palace Apartment 1A, which is one of the homes of Prince William and his wife Kate. What does it actually look like and how did they adapt the shape of their home space to their needs?
One of London’s most famous residences, Kensington Palace once became the home of the future King and Queen. When Prince William married Catherine Middleton in 2011, they first lived together in the grounds of the palace called Nottingham Cottage in a 2-bedroom starter house until 2013. They were later offered apartment 1A right in the palace and before it underwent renovation when they moved in.
Do you want to see William and Kate’s amazing apartment in Kensington Palace and learn interesting facts? Watch an interesting YouTube video on the House Digest channel:
Source: Youtube
A bit of history
The original building from the early 17th century, called Kensington House, was built by the eminent lawyer and Speaker of the House of Commons, Heneage Finch. In 1689, William of Orange bought it from his heir and used it as a holiday home near London. Later, a private road was built that connected Kensington with Hyde Park, part of which is still preserved today as Rotten Row. Later, the palace was renovated and expanded according to the design of Christopher Wren.
Wedding gift
Kensington Palace is located in the beautiful location of London’s Kensington and Chelsea district. William and Kate were given an apartment to live in here in 2011 by Queen Elizabeth as a wedding gift. It underwent extensive renovations before they moved in.
In the 20th century, rather less important members of the royal family stayed in the palace. But until the moment when Kensington became the residence of Prince Charles and his wife Diana. Their sons Harry and William spent part of their childhood here, and Princess Diana used the palace even after her divorce from Charles, until her tragic death in 1997.
The building has been renovated
Although the interiors have undergone many changes over the years, the exterior of Kensington Palace has retained its original design. Later, the building underwent a two-year renovation that was completed in 2012, and part of this renovation was the repair of damage from World War II bombs.
The royal family then invested £12 million in repairs so that the palace could continue to serve its other very famous residents well. In 2013, it was ceremonially reopened by the Queen. The goal was to create a modern and functional home that would also respect the historic character of the building. Kate Middleton played a large part in the furnishing, bringing her unique style to the interior.
Changes also occurred in apartment 1 A
William and Kate’s then-future apartment was also renovated, and its modifications came to about 4.5 million pounds. Not only was dangerous asbestos removed from everywhere, but electrical and plumbing modifications were also made. The modernization also involved the introduction of ecological heating and water heating systems, a complete replacement of the roof and modification of the walls, where some were removed and others were newly plastered.
Over 20 rooms
Although the apartment originally had 30 rooms, their number was reduced and a generally more open layout of the entire space was created. There are currently over 20 rooms here. In addition to the two reception rooms, the apartment has several offices and dining rooms and three kitchens, one of which is the main family kitchen and the others serve the staff.
There are two master suites and three bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and walk-in closets. Each of the children has two rooms, one used for playing and the other for sleeping. There are also nine rooms on the upper floor for staff such as nannies, housekeepers and butlers. The apartment also has a gym and the four floors are accessible not only by stairs, but also by elevator. The apartment also houses offices for a number of charitable organizations.
What the photos revealed
Although this is a royal residence, Kate Middleton has not been afraid to combine luxury pieces with cheaper alternatives. In the photos that became public, it was possible to see not only preserved historically valuable pieces of furniture, but also designer pieces from renowned brands.
Kate paid special attention to the equipment of children’s rooms. She wanted to create a cozy and inspiring environment for her children where they could feel at home. The interiors of children’s rooms are full of colors, toys and books, as well as furnished with practical furniture and accessories of the Scandinavian design brand IKEA.
Kate and William’s new home
In 2022, Prince William and Kate Middleton moved with their three children to Windsor, England, because they wanted to be close to Queen Elizabeth II at the time, they wanted privacy and they wanted to give their children the most “normal” upbringing.
However, this does not mean that they will leave London for good. They have retained not only the original residence at Kensington Palace, but also the Anmer Hall country house in Norfolk.
Resources: www.scenetherapy.com, www.housedigest.com, www.realstate.com
