Kensington

As royal wedding excitement hits fever pitch, we explore the London borough the newlyweds will call home

- Chantal Borciani

Flanked by the verdant acres of Hyde Park and a stone’s throw from walks along the River Thames, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a much-loved leafy corner of the capital with a rich history winding back centuries.

Its royal connections can be traced back to 1689 when King William III chose it as his residence, and today Kensington Palace remain the jewel in the borough’s crown.

The birthplace of Queen Victoria in 1819 and her residence until her ascension to the throne in 1837, the palace brims with exhibits, artefacts and original features. Nowhere is quite as ensconced in the modern royal fairytale; the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reside in a 20-room apartment in Kensington Palace, while former residents include Diana, Princess of Wales and Princess Margaret.

Nottingham Cottage, Prince Harry’s two-bedroom abode is also located in the grounds and was the setting for his romantic proposal to Meghan Markle. While Nottingham Cottage may be out of bounds, visitors can tour public wings including the King’s Gallery, which looks almost exactly as it did when it was decorated for King George I in 1725, with a mix of red damask and opulent carvings and walls bearing some of the finest paintings in the Royal Collection.

The Cupola Room is the most ornately designed room of the State Apartments and was the first royal commission of William Kent, the artist and designer who would go on to decorate the rest of the interior of the palace. For a touch of modern history, the spectacular exhibition of Princess Diana’s dresses runs until February 2019.