Kensington Palace grew from Nottingham House, a villa chosen by William III and Mary II in 1689 as a country retreat. Successive residents reshaped its rooms and gardens, leaving traces of childhood, court life, and royal privacy.
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Kensington Palace began as a modest villa, not a grand royal complex. William III and Mary II chose Nottingham House in 1689 as a retreat from the main court, then transformed it into a palace.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- William III and Mary II chose Nottingham House as a retreat in 1689.
- Queen Victoria spent her childhood at Kensington Palace and left for Buckingham Palace in 1837.
- Queen Caroline helped shape the palace gardens and court life.
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