Kensington Palace By: Loni Sargent A Brief History *Kensington Palace was acquired in 1689 by King William and Queen Mary *Was a Jacobean Mansion known as Nottingham House *Purchased for 20,000 pounds Renovations by William and Mary Renovations were done by Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor Very Quickly renovated, King William and Queen Mary were able to move in by Christmas of 1689. The Royal Rat Killer William Hester was employed the first year after King William and Queen Mary moved in. He is known as one of the first pest controllers. Queen Annes Time Only contribution to the look of Kensington Palace was the Orangery King George and More Renovations King George took the throne in 1714 He hired William Kent to do the renovations of Kensington Palace. The Kings Staircase Peter the Wild Boy Is painted in the Kings Staircase Kensington Today Today parts of Kensington are still private and house members of the Royal Family The parts open to the public are: the orangery, the Sunken Garden, the State Apartments, the Cupola Room, the Queens Gallery, North Drawing Room, Lower Hall, Teck Saloon, Red Saloon Drama at Kensington The awakening of Queen Victoria and the Mourning of Princess Diana Princess Diana Exhibit On display until December, 2007 which marks the 10 th anniversary of her death Includes photographs of her life and a dress collection Done by Mario Testino