Reopened to the public in spring 2012 after major renovation Kensington Palace has been a royal residence for more than three centuries. Formerly a private house enlarged by Christopher Wren to suit the needs of William & Mary this nonetheless unpretentious property was the favoured home of five sovereigns until the mid-eighteenth century & during this period was restyled & decorated by some of England's greatest architects artists & designers. It was the birthplace & childhood home of Queen Victoria & towards the end of her reign she approved a pioneering restoration of the State Apartments. More recently Kensington was the home of Diana Princess of Wales during the last years of her life. This revised illustrated history published to mark the palace's latest transformation tells the fascinating story of the site recounting not only the architectural development of the building & the creation of its magnificent gardens but also the dramas & intrigues of court life.