Cash boost for Royal Palace revamp

The Palace was built in 1605

Plans to transform Kensington Palace into an exciting visitor attraction have received a major financial boost.

The Heritage Lottery Fund is giving £1 million towards Historic Royal Palaces' £12 million project.

Work is due to begin in 2010 and is scheduled to be completed in 2012 for the Olympics and the Queen's 60th Jubilee.

Kensington Palace has been a home to many famous royals such as Queen Victoria and Diana, Princess of Wales.

The People's Palace

The aim of Historic Royal Palaces, a charity that also looks after the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House and Kew Palace, is to open up Kensington Palace to the public.

Both the Palace and its gardens will be redeveloped and be made much more accessible for visitors. Major improvements are set to include:

• New public gardens
• A new visitor entrance
• An 'inner hub' that will be free of charge to enter
• New education and community facilities

Heritage funds

Wesley Kerr, Chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund committee for London, said:

British history flows through Kensington Palace like an ever-rolling stream Wesley Kerr Heritage Lottery Fund

"British history flows through Kensington Palace like an ever-rolling stream. For 320 years this fabulous palace and the marvellously serene landscape surrounding it have been shaped and moulded by many of the great figures of our common past.

"Now thanks to this Heritage Lottery Fund award new generations will be able to enjoy and learn from the palace, through greatly enhanced access and educational programmes, the reuniting of the Palace with the magnificent vistas from and to central London, and the retelling of so many great stories."

Escaping the grime

Kensington Palace was originally built as a private house in 1605. It was bought by by King William III and Queen Mary II in 1689 because they wanted somewhere to escape from the 'grime' of Whitehall.

Architects of the calibre of Christopher Wren, Nicholas Hawksmoor and John Nash have all contributed to renovations in order to make the Jacobean house fit for a Royal household.

Curators inspect Queen Victoria's linen and drawers

The history of the Palace will be shared with visitors through a series of permanent displays.

One such display will feature Queen Victoria. This exhibition will explore her life growing up in the palace, her relationship with Prince Albert, his subsequent death and the Queen's long period of mourning.

Visitors will see the rooms where the young Victoria lived and see collections of her personal objects.

Eight down, four to go

Sir Trevor McDonald, who is a trustee of Historic Royal Palaces, said:

"I'm truly excited to be part of this ambitious initiative that will enable many more people to explore this palace of extraordinary history, opening its doors, its rooms, its memories, its stories, its gardens and its collections to the widest possible audience."

Michael Day, Chief Executive of Historic Royal Palaces, revealed that they have now raised £8 million towards the target of £12 million that is needed to fund the project.