Royal palace re-opens after £12m facelift

Kensington Palace is set to re-open to visitors after a £12 million refurbishment to mark The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

A number of exhibitions including, one featuring dresses worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, are being staged as part of the restoration.

Diana: Glimpses Of A Modern Princess will open on 26 March. Other exhibitions to open later this month are an exploration of the life of Queen Victoria, called Victoria Revealed, and a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of the palace’s former residents.

Uncover The Secrets Of The Royal Court At Kensington Palace will give visitors a glimpse into the lives of monarchs from the Houses of Stuart and Hanover in some of the palace’s state apartments.

The restoration project was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Outside, in the grounds of the palace alongside Hyde Park, a statue of Queen Victoria has been given a facelift - with her shrapnel-damaged nose replaced for the second time.

The gardens have been re-landscaped to create a grand entrance from the Round Pond in Kensington Gardens.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge plan to make Princess Margaret’s former apartment in the palace their permanent London residence.

Originally built in 1605 as a private country house, it was purchased in 1689 by King William III and Queen Mary II, eager to escape Whitehall.