Early beginnings of Kensington Palace
In its early days, the palace was called Nottingham House, after Heneage Finch, the Earl of Nottingham acquired Sir George's property.
Royal acquisition
It was only in 1689 that co-monarchs King William III and Mary II acquired the property as an alternative to Whitehall Palace. To bring the house to the royal standard, William and Mary instructed the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren to expand the house. It then remained the royal's preferred home despite St. James' park still being the official royal residence.
The Queen Anne era
When King William passed, the palace became the residence of Queen Anne. She too instructed Sir Christopher Wren to conduct further extensions, creating what is now known as the Queen Anne apartments. Perhaps Anne's most significant addition to the palace was lavish gardens, with an orangery built-in 1704 that still stands today.
Later, King George I decorated the palace's interiors with ornate ceilings and walls. His son King George II became the last reigning monarch to use the palace as a residence.
