Grace and Favour residences

[Martyn]

I've just been to visit this Apartment as well.  I was amazed at the size of the flat, although only a selection of its rooms are open to the public.  I was particularly enervated at not being able to enter Pcss Margaret's drawing room (such a horrible shade of blue),

If I am not mistaken, what little professional decorating help Margaret had came from David Hicks.

TampaBay

Enough said. 

[Martyn]

What a treat it was to visit Princess Margaret's apartment at Kensington last year.  It seemed that these rooms had only been on public display since 2004 or so.   There was a bit of remodelling being done at the time, and I'm wondering if anyone has visited her rooms since then and what has been done?   Thanks! 

I've just been to visit this Apartment as well.  I was amazed at the size of the flat, although only a selection of its rooms are open to the public.  I was particularly enervated at not being able to enter Pcss Margaret's drawing room (such a horrible shade of blue), but visitors are on;ly allowed to peer through a small hatch, formerly used for a projector, into the room.  At the far end was displayed an evening dress in a glass case but it was so far away, in the room beyond, that it was impossible to see!

I was more interested in the fact that Pcss Louise had lived in this apartment and there were some great photos of how it looked when she lived there (Louise had far better taste in decor than Margaret!).  There was also displayed the most beautiful head and shoulders portrait of Louise in her wedding dress but the name of the painter escapes me....I had a look for the window that Louise allegedly bricked up to prevent Lorne from roaming in the gardens at night when his mind was starting to be affected.

It was quite fascinating to see the rooms where these two royal princesses had lived, but how I wish that we could instead see the late Princess of Wales's apartment..........

Which of Margaret's rooms are open to the public?  Are they confined to the ground floor?

 The hatch you described for use by a projector is between the Library and the Drawing Room.

As I recall, we came in through a guest bedroom.  There was another small room with a fashion display in it.  The hall, then we went into the library/study with the hatch which gave us a tanatalising view of the drawing room and the dining rom beyond (through the hatch).  Finally the garden room, where some of the Duke of Sussex's wondeful bookcases had been re-used and where Margaret kept her shell collection (she had so many holidays, it must have been enormous!).  That was it, but interesting enough.....

[Leuchtenberg]

It's too bad that more of Margaret's home isn't more visible. I find it odd that visitors aren't allowed to enter the Drawing Room, Dining Room, or even the supposed "show piece" kitchen.  Perhaps those western rooms are considered too close to the Gloucester apartment and that is why the restriction.

Thanks for sharing the information with us Martyn. 

[Martyn]

It's too bad that more of Margaret's home isn't more visible. I find it odd that visitors aren't allowed to enter the Drawing Room, Dining Room, or even the supposed "show piece" kitchen.  Perhaps those western rooms are considered too close to the Gloucester apartment and that is why the restriction.

Thanks for sharing the information with us Martyn. 

You are most welcome.

The exhibition is quite interesting, if a bit limited - perhaps only of interest to serioius royal fans like us?  Worth a visit though and KP is lovely - has a great feel to it, with some great examples of court dress on display.

If I had had any sense about me, i would have made some notes.........

[Eddie_uk]

I had a look for the window that Louise allegedly bricked up to prevent Lorne from roaming in the gardens at night when his mind was starting to be affected.

Or apparently to meet men (!!) late at night, as the story goes.

What are Dianas old rooms used for?

[Martyn]

I had a look for the window that Louise allegedly bricked up to prevent Lorne from roaming in the gardens at night when his mind was starting to be affected.

Or apparently to meet men (!!) late at night, as the story goes.

What are Dianas old rooms used for?

Well, that's one theory!  After all, KP gardens were open to the public in the 19th century........

I don't know what Diana's apartment is used for.  It would be so marvellous if we could see it, but perhaps it's still too personal a place for her sons?

I have heard though that the rooms were emptied after her death..........

[Marlene]

I had a tour of Margaret's rooms last year during a visit to London ..  the former residence of the Prince and later Diana, Princess of Wales, is now used for offices and storage.

I had a look for the window that Louise allegedly bricked up to prevent Lorne from roaming in the gardens at night when his mind was starting to be affected.

Or apparently to meet men (!!) late at night, as the story goes.

What are Dianas old rooms used for?

[Arleen_Ristau]

Marlene, that is the saddest thing.....Diana's rooms as storage and offices!!!  Sounds like spite on someones part to me not to keep them as they were.

[ChristineM]

I don't think it was 'spite', Arleen.   It seems to me they did not know how to handle the situation... still don't for that matter.

For us, and for history, it is a great pity and I hope that, in time, something more imaginative and thoughtful, worthy and appropriate might be done with those rooms.    But think about Princes William and Harry.   It was their home.   Without their mother, it is an empty apartment in a palace.   Perhaps they find it easier to live with the knowledge that it is now office space and store rooms.   I'm sure they father and stepmother do.

tsaria

[Arleen_Ristau]

Tsaria, those rooms give me the chills....I can imagine William and Harry roaming around them in the dark one night.....remembering!

Has anyone thought of a museum for Diana?  Besides her Brother to enrich himself that is.....

Arleen

[CHRISinUSA]

Diana's apartments were actually two separate adjoining apartments merged into one.  From what I read as late as the latter part of 2006, the "main" rooms in the larger section of the apartments: the Drawing Room, the Dining Room, Diana's Sitting Room, and Charles (and later the boys') Study / Sitting Room were still empty.

The smaller apartment section (the Bedroom, Dressing Room, Wardrobe / Bath and ancillary rooms) have been remodelled into offices.

And the Princes' Nursury rooms (on the attic floor above the main apartment) are used for storage.

At present it wouldn't be possible to have these apartments turned into a Diana Museum, since they are squarely in the middle of the private residential apartments of the palace - next door to Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

The future of those apartments - and in fact the entire private residential area of the palace - remains unknown.  Given the howling of Parliament a few years back over the palace's maintenance costs, it appears doubtful that any future royals will live there, but I wonder if new courtires / staff are still being given quarters there even today.

[Martyn]

I don't think it was 'spite', Arleen.   It seems to me they did not know how to handle the situation... still don't for that matter.

For us, and for history, it is a great pity and I hope that, in time, something more imaginative and thoughtful, worthy and appropriate might be done with those rooms.    But think about Princes William and Harry.   It was their home.   Without their mother, it is an empty apartment in a palace.   Perhaps they find it easier to live with the knowledge that it is now office space and store rooms.   I'm sure they father and stepmother do.

tsaria

I agree with that Tsaria, but must qualify it somewhat.

I have just been to KP and it does seem to me that it is quite geared up to deal with the Princess and remembering her.  There is plenty on sale that reflects the interest in her.  I think that is quite important for a lot of people who still have an interest in the Princess's life and work.

It would perhaps be tasteless to turn those rooms in to a public space; as Chris suggests it is not practical either.  I am sure that they are being put to good use.

[CHRISinUSA]

Well, it would seem two current royal grace-and-favour residents at Kensington will no longer occupy their home by "grace and favor". 

As the press is now reporting, the Queen will - after this coming year - end her quite generous practice of paying for the Kensington Palace apartment of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.  Her Majesty been paying 120,000 pounds a year rent (from her own funds) for the Kent apartment for the past 6 years, an arraingement that will end after 2009.

[TampaBay]

iT is my understanding the Queen "gave" the Kents their current KP Apartment as a weddding gift.


TampaBay

[CHRISinUSA]

Correct - that gift was made in a time when it was still deemed "at the Queen's pleasure" to grant apartments within the Royal Estate to whomever she wished, and under whatever terms she deemed appropriate. 

Then six years back, Parliament decided it was no longer supportive of this perrogative, and the Queen was forced into the very unpleasant position of retracting a wedding gift.  Her Majesty compensated by paying market rent for the Michael-Kent apartment out of her own pockets for a set number of years.