News and photos of the renovated Kensington Palace apartment, home to Kate and William, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince George...

Subscribe to Baseball History Comes Alive! to receive new posts automatically Jim Bottomley Photo Gallery Click on any image below to see photos in full size and to start Photo Gallery: Spotlight on the Hall of Fame Let's Remember The Often-Overlooked Hall-of-Famer, “Sunny Jim” Bottomley! Did Jim Bottomley have the "greatest" game of all-time? (OK...maybe not

Ref no: m52116

Part of the Kensington Palace apartments where Diana lived until her death has become the nerve centre of the charitable and business operations spearheaded by William, Kate and Harry.

The Awakening, The Seawright-Ellison Family Saga, Vol. 1, A Narrative History is the first volume of narratives about the descendants of two families who share a common ancestor, Martha Kitchings Seawright Ellison. The family saga begins with Martha and her family, who were sharecroppers lived and worked on the Hugh E. Phillips plantation near Williston, South Carolina during the Reconstruction Era, and the circumstances that involved her marriages to Dave Seawright, Sr. and Joseph Ellison, Sr. The book documents the saga with contextualized resurrected stories of relatives that were forgotten and fragmented over the years, in addition to, an appendix section which consist of individual pictures, documented history of places and events, and primary sources relative to the family saga. The Seawright narratives include the stories of Robert L. Seawright, who charismatically and jovially survived the challenges of life despite his shortcomings and untimely the deaths of his young parents. The story of Robert's son, Wallace Seawright, Sr., a beloved husband, father, deacon at Baughmanville Baptist Church, Prince Hall Mason, and sharecropper, raised his family of sixteen children with clear moral values and supplemented his income which allowed him to survive the pitfalls of sharecropping life. The story of two brothers, Roosevelt and Henry Seawright, beloved husbands', and fathers, ascended to legendary status, skillfully in brick masonry and craftsmanship in the city of Aiken, South Carolina, and surrounding areas. The Ellison narratives include the story of Floster and Nora Miles Ellison, Sr., who were generational pillars of their community through service in their respective professions, families, and roles as deacon and deaconess respectively at Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church. Floster and Nora's son, Floster L. Ellison, Jr., who excelled in professional barbering and social work, inspired by the collective activism during the Civil Rights Movement, co-founded the Palmetto State Barber Association, and enjoyed a legendary career as chief of social services at Crafts-Farrow State Hospital, an agency of the South Carolina Department of Mental Health. The story of Floster and Nora's grandson, Tommy Ellison, whose experiences as a youth singing on the children choir at Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church, inspired him to pursue a legendary career in African American gospel music, affectionately known by many of his fans as "Mr. Superstar of Gospel". | Author: Walter B. Curry | Publisher: Palmetto Publishing | Publication Date: May 30, 2021 | Number of Pages: 269 pages | Language: English | Binding: Paperback | ISBN-10: 1638372829 | ISBN-13: 9781638372820

Kensington Palace from the southeast. The wing containing Apartment No. 1A overlooks a private garden to the south. With the anticipation of the birth of an heir to the British throne, an up-grade in accommodations at Kensington Palace was granted William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Soon improvements will be complete on the largest of the private apartments at Kensington Palace, No. 1A. This is a reversal of policy from a few years a go that royal residency at Kensington Palace would be phased out. No. 1A was last occupied by Princess Margaret who died in 2002.  An aerial view of Kensington Palace via mail.co.uk This is a near repeat of about fifty years ago when the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, married Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960 and received a relatively minor apartment in Kensington Palace. But when Margaret informed the Queen of her pregnancy, No. 1A was assigned to the young family. The apartment occupies a section of the clock tower wing designed by Sir Christopher Wren for King William and Queen Mary in the 17th century. It had been occupied by Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Louise, until her death in 1939, then by Victoria's grandson, the Marquess of Carisbrooke.  Apartment No. 1A is to the right (south) of the Clock Court.   No. 1A is essentially a four-story attached house, what would be called a terrace house in England. Most sources cite it as having 20 rooms but others list it as having 57 rooms, which seems to be counting the service rooms such as the linen storeroom, the luggage room, a drying room, a pantry just for crystal, and a photographic studio.   The entrance to the Clock Court in the 1920s. An 18 month renovation for the Snowdons was provided through an allotment of GBP 85,000 plus a matching amount (largely used for furnishings) from their private income, minus a gift of GBP 20,000 provided by the Queen.  A vintage view of the Entrance Hall of No. 1A. Photo via Royal Dish blog. The main reception rooms are on the ground floor with the Entrance Hall acting as a spine along the inner courtyard, running the entire length of the wing. There's an elegant Drawing Room, a Dining Room, a Study used by Lord Snowdon, a Conservatory, and a Guest Cloak Room (which we would call a Powder Room).  Princess Margaret in her Drawing Room, circa 1981, Apartment No. 1A, Kensington Palace. Photo via Easy Branches blog. Lord Snowdon's uncle, Oliver Messel, advised on the décor, as did Snowdon's lifelong friend, Carl Toms, a set designer. The Regency Style Drawing Room had walls of kingfisher blue with a custom made neo-classical rug designed by Toms.   The Dining Room, in a photo believed to be taken for a function after Princess Margaret's occupation. Photo via Royal Dish blog. During their courtship, Tony would prepare meals for just the two of them in his rented room and she would clean up afterwards. So the concept of a Family Kitchen was an important feature and the first for a royal palace.  The Snowdons' Kitchen. Photo via Royal Dish blog. The Kitchen was 350 square feet with modern cabinets of white and teak-patterned plastic laminate with stainless steel countertops and a sculptural exhaust hood. In addition to a 100 square foot larder, it contained all the modern conveniences of the time: a large refrigerator, a deep freezer, and a garbage disposal.  Princess Margaret in her wedding tiara in a photo by Lord Snowdon. Image via www.edur.it As customary, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon each had their own bedroom and bathroom. Hers was fitted with white marble and, as her specific request, an orchid-color sink. But a departure from tradition was having the rooms for Viscount Linley on the same floor as his parents. The baby had a night nursery and a day nursery, plus his own kitchen and bathroom. Additionally, there were three more principal bedrooms and dressing rooms, nine staff bedrooms, four staff bathrooms, two staff kitchens, and two staff sittings rooms. (Apparently the distinction between the staff rooms was due to a hierarchy among the servants). Lord Snowdon, who had studied architecture before becoming a popular photographer, insisted on some modern features such as flush doors and what we in the US would call Danish Modern detailing for his Study; in addition, he wanted some electric devices that did not meet the approval of the Ministry of Works, according to sources. What may or may not have been a coincidence, a fire delayed the Snowdons moving in.  The Third Floor of Kensington Palace. Image via Royal Dish blog. In this color-coded floor plan, the pink rooms are the State Apartment maintained by Historic Royal Palaces that may be visited as a museum. The violet rooms are one of four floors of Apt No. 1A. The tan rooms are Apt 1, now occupied by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (Prince Richard); formerly it was the home of his mother, Princess Alice, and the home of Princess Marina before that. The green rooms are Apt 8/9, formerly the apartment of Diana, Princess of Wales; part (or all) of it is now used as The Prince's Drawing School. The golden rooms are the apartment of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.  A proposal to improve the public entrance, with the architectural changes not realized. Image via Historic Royal Palaces. The current renovation of No. 1A underway for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is reportedly costing approximately $1.52 million. Some news sources are guessing that the interior design is being carried out by antiques dealer & designer Annabel Elliot, the sister of Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, William's stepmother. However, the media had seen Catherine shopping at up-scale speciality retail shops for nursery items and there has been speculation that Kelly Hoppen has contributed to that room at least.  An alternate new public entrance to Kensington Palace. This design, with a few changes, was built. Image by John Simpson Architects via London Evening Standard. Kensington Palace has also been in the news for the GBP 12 million refurbishment in honor of the Queen's Jubilee. It is unique that it is the only British royal palace where the general public can visit the garden and the ground floor of the State Apartments wing free of charge. John Simpson Architects, one of Prince Charles' favorites, designed the new ticket court and the new public entrance, the latter being controversial for its design. (After the first design for the entrance was rejected, an alternate that was lower and not attached to the building was submitted as a compromise). A new garden approach was designed by Todd Longstaffe-Gowan. A previous post of The Devoted Classicist about Todd and his work at Kensington Palace may be read here. A post on Todd's London home, Malplaquet House, may be read here.   Landscape architect Todd Longstaffe-Gowan at the base of the statue of Queen Victoria in the garden he designed at Kensington Palace. Photo via www.tlg-landscape.co.uk/

China: Uma História Em Objetos, De Harrison-hall, Jessica é um livro fascinante que mergulha na rica história da China através de objetos significativos. Com uma capa mole e uma edição de 1ª edição em 2018, este livro é uma leitura imperdível para os amantes das ciências humanas e sociais. Com uma narrativa manual em português, o livro possui 352 páginas repletas de informações e histórias envolventes. Descubra a China de uma maneira única, explorando sua cultura e tradições por meio de objetos autênticos e significativos. Não perca a oportunidade de adquirir este livro novo e desvendar os segredos da China.

Kensington Palace from the southeast. The wing containing Apartment No. 1A overlooks a private garden to the south. With the anticipation of the birth of an heir to the British throne, an up-grade in accommodations at Kensington Palace was granted William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Soon improvements will be complete on the largest of the private apartments at Kensington Palace, No. 1A. This is a reversal of policy from a few years a go that royal residency at Kensington Palace would be phased out. No. 1A was last occupied by Princess Margaret who died in 2002.  An aerial view of Kensington Palace via mail.co.uk This is a near repeat of about fifty years ago when the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, married Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960 and received a relatively minor apartment in Kensington Palace. But when Margaret informed the Queen of her pregnancy, No. 1A was assigned to the young family. The apartment occupies a section of the clock tower wing designed by Sir Christopher Wren for King William and Queen Mary in the 17th century. It had been occupied by Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Louise, until her death in 1939, then by Victoria's grandson, the Marquess of Carisbrooke.  Apartment No. 1A is to the right (south) of the Clock Court.   No. 1A is essentially a four-story attached house, what would be called a terrace house in England. Most sources cite it as having 20 rooms but others list it as having 57 rooms, which seems to be counting the service rooms such as the linen storeroom, the luggage room, a drying room, a pantry just for crystal, and a photographic studio.   The entrance to the Clock Court in the 1920s. An 18 month renovation for the Snowdons was provided through an allotment of GBP 85,000 plus a matching amount (largely used for furnishings) from their private income, minus a gift of GBP 20,000 provided by the Queen.  A vintage view of the Entrance Hall of No. 1A. Photo via Royal Dish blog. The main reception rooms are on the ground floor with the Entrance Hall acting as a spine along the inner courtyard, running the entire length of the wing. There's an elegant Drawing Room, a Dining Room, a Study used by Lord Snowdon, a Conservatory, and a Guest Cloak Room (which we would call a Powder Room).  Princess Margaret in her Drawing Room, circa 1981, Apartment No. 1A, Kensington Palace. Photo via Easy Branches blog. Lord Snowdon's uncle, Oliver Messel, advised on the décor, as did Snowdon's lifelong friend, Carl Toms, a set designer. The Regency Style Drawing Room had walls of kingfisher blue with a custom made neo-classical rug designed by Toms.   The Dining Room, in a photo believed to be taken for a function after Princess Margaret's occupation. Photo via Royal Dish blog. During their courtship, Tony would prepare meals for just the two of them in his rented room and she would clean up afterwards. So the concept of a Family Kitchen was an important feature and the first for a royal palace.  The Snowdons' Kitchen. Photo via Royal Dish blog. The Kitchen was 350 square feet with modern cabinets of white and teak-patterned plastic laminate with stainless steel countertops and a sculptural exhaust hood. In addition to a 100 square foot larder, it contained all the modern conveniences of the time: a large refrigerator, a deep freezer, and a garbage disposal.  Princess Margaret in her wedding tiara in a photo by Lord Snowdon. Image via www.edur.it As customary, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon each had their own bedroom and bathroom. Hers was fitted with white marble and, as her specific request, an orchid-color sink. But a departure from tradition was having the rooms for Viscount Linley on the same floor as his parents. The baby had a night nursery and a day nursery, plus his own kitchen and bathroom. Additionally, there were three more principal bedrooms and dressing rooms, nine staff bedrooms, four staff bathrooms, two staff kitchens, and two staff sittings rooms. (Apparently the distinction between the staff rooms was due to a hierarchy among the servants). Lord Snowdon, who had studied architecture before becoming a popular photographer, insisted on some modern features such as flush doors and what we in the US would call Danish Modern detailing for his Study; in addition, he wanted some electric devices that did not meet the approval of the Ministry of Works, according to sources. What may or may not have been a coincidence, a fire delayed the Snowdons moving in.  The Third Floor of Kensington Palace. Image via Royal Dish blog. In this color-coded floor plan, the pink rooms are the State Apartment maintained by Historic Royal Palaces that may be visited as a museum. The violet rooms are one of four floors of Apt No. 1A. The tan rooms are Apt 1, now occupied by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (Prince Richard); formerly it was the home of his mother, Princess Alice, and the home of Princess Marina before that. The green rooms are Apt 8/9, formerly the apartment of Diana, Princess of Wales; part (or all) of it is now used as The Prince's Drawing School. The golden rooms are the apartment of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.  A proposal to improve the public entrance, with the architectural changes not realized. Image via Historic Royal Palaces. The current renovation of No. 1A underway for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is reportedly costing approximately $1.52 million. Some news sources are guessing that the interior design is being carried out by antiques dealer & designer Annabel Elliot, the sister of Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, William's stepmother. However, the media had seen Catherine shopping at up-scale speciality retail shops for nursery items and there has been speculation that Kelly Hoppen has contributed to that room at least.  An alternate new public entrance to Kensington Palace. This design, with a few changes, was built. Image by John Simpson Architects via London Evening Standard. Kensington Palace has also been in the news for the GBP 12 million refurbishment in honor of the Queen's Jubilee. It is unique that it is the only British royal palace where the general public can visit the garden and the ground floor of the State Apartments wing free of charge. John Simpson Architects, one of Prince Charles' favorites, designed the new ticket court and the new public entrance, the latter being controversial for its design. (After the first design for the entrance was rejected, an alternate that was lower and not attached to the building was submitted as a compromise). A new garden approach was designed by Todd Longstaffe-Gowan. A previous post of The Devoted Classicist about Todd and his work at Kensington Palace may be read here. A post on Todd's London home, Malplaquet House, may be read here.   Landscape architect Todd Longstaffe-Gowan at the base of the statue of Queen Victoria in the garden he designed at Kensington Palace. Photo via www.tlg-landscape.co.uk/

Sadie Rice, 35, pictured, has been working at Anmer Hall since 2015 but reportedly could not cope with spending increasing amounts of time at the royal couple's London home, Kensington Palace.

Situated on the South side of Kensington Palace, Apartment 1A is the largest of the private apartments located at Kensington Palace. Please see post 2 on Kensington Palace for the floor plans of Apartment 1A within the palace. Apartment 1A is the former marital home of Princess Margaret, the Countess of Snowdon and the Earl of Snowdon. After their divorce it remained the home of Princess Margaret until her death. In 2012 it was announced that Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace would become the marital home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after undergoing extensive renovations. Until that point it had been used by Historic Royal Palaces, a charity which maintains non-residential royal palaces, as an exhibition space and private hire venue, generating income for the charity. Below: The garden front of Apartment 1A seen from the South. This photo shows Apartment 1A with scaffolding in place during the renovation of the apartment. The wall securing the private garden can be seen in the foreground. Below: The entrance front of Apartment 1A, seen from the main courtyard of Kensington Palace. Below: The wall is constructed to secure the private garden in time for Princess Margaret taking up residence in Apartment 1A. Below: The entrance hall of Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace. Below: The formal drawing room of Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace. After Princess Margaret's death this room was used by Historic Royal Palaces to host exhibitions and also offered for private hire for dining and entertaining (as featured in the photos). Below: Lord Snowdon's study in Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace. Below: The kitchen of Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace. The kitchen is located on the ground floor to the left side of the main entrance of Apartment 1A, it overlooks the courtyard of the palace. Below: Princess Margaret assesses the damage to her home after a fire at Apartment 1A of Kensington Palace. Below: The private walled garden of Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace. This will be the private walled garden of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. This will be the private family garden of their new home. See photos above for the walled boundary of the garden of Apartment 1A. Thank you for reading my 4 part series on Kensington Palace including photos of the exterior, interior, floorplans and details on Apartments 8, 9 and 1A. I hope you've enjoyed reading. If I get access to any further insightful photos I will be sure to post them.

England's de facto first prime minister burned most of the bills for his country estate...

Kensington Palace from the southeast. The wing containing Apartment No. 1A overlooks a private garden to the south. With the anticipation of the birth of an heir to the British throne, an up-grade in accommodations at Kensington Palace was granted William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Soon improvements will be complete on the largest of the private apartments at Kensington Palace, No. 1A. This is a reversal of policy from a few years a go that royal residency at Kensington Palace would be phased out. No. 1A was last occupied by Princess Margaret who died in 2002.  An aerial view of Kensington Palace via mail.co.uk This is a near repeat of about fifty years ago when the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, married Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960 and received a relatively minor apartment in Kensington Palace. But when Margaret informed the Queen of her pregnancy, No. 1A was assigned to the young family. The apartment occupies a section of the clock tower wing designed by Sir Christopher Wren for King William and Queen Mary in the 17th century. It had been occupied by Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Louise, until her death in 1939, then by Victoria's grandson, the Marquess of Carisbrooke.  Apartment No. 1A is to the right (south) of the Clock Court.   No. 1A is essentially a four-story attached house, what would be called a terrace house in England. Most sources cite it as having 20 rooms but others list it as having 57 rooms, which seems to be counting the service rooms such as the linen storeroom, the luggage room, a drying room, a pantry just for crystal, and a photographic studio.   The entrance to the Clock Court in the 1920s. An 18 month renovation for the Snowdons was provided through an allotment of GBP 85,000 plus a matching amount (largely used for furnishings) from their private income, minus a gift of GBP 20,000 provided by the Queen.  A vintage view of the Entrance Hall of No. 1A. Photo via Royal Dish blog. The main reception rooms are on the ground floor with the Entrance Hall acting as a spine along the inner courtyard, running the entire length of the wing. There's an elegant Drawing Room, a Dining Room, a Study used by Lord Snowdon, a Conservatory, and a Guest Cloak Room (which we would call a Powder Room).  Princess Margaret in her Drawing Room, circa 1981, Apartment No. 1A, Kensington Palace. Photo via Easy Branches blog. Lord Snowdon's uncle, Oliver Messel, advised on the décor, as did Snowdon's lifelong friend, Carl Toms, a set designer. The Regency Style Drawing Room had walls of kingfisher blue with a custom made neo-classical rug designed by Toms.   The Dining Room, in a photo believed to be taken for a function after Princess Margaret's occupation. Photo via Royal Dish blog. During their courtship, Tony would prepare meals for just the two of them in his rented room and she would clean up afterwards. So the concept of a Family Kitchen was an important feature and the first for a royal palace.  The Snowdons' Kitchen. Photo via Royal Dish blog. The Kitchen was 350 square feet with modern cabinets of white and teak-patterned plastic laminate with stainless steel countertops and a sculptural exhaust hood. In addition to a 100 square foot larder, it contained all the modern conveniences of the time: a large refrigerator, a deep freezer, and a garbage disposal.  Princess Margaret in her wedding tiara in a photo by Lord Snowdon. Image via www.edur.it As customary, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon each had their own bedroom and bathroom. Hers was fitted with white marble and, as her specific request, an orchid-color sink. But a departure from tradition was having the rooms for Viscount Linley on the same floor as his parents. The baby had a night nursery and a day nursery, plus his own kitchen and bathroom. Additionally, there were three more principal bedrooms and dressing rooms, nine staff bedrooms, four staff bathrooms, two staff kitchens, and two staff sittings rooms. (Apparently the distinction between the staff rooms was due to a hierarchy among the servants). Lord Snowdon, who had studied architecture before becoming a popular photographer, insisted on some modern features such as flush doors and what we in the US would call Danish Modern detailing for his Study; in addition, he wanted some electric devices that did not meet the approval of the Ministry of Works, according to sources. What may or may not have been a coincidence, a fire delayed the Snowdons moving in.  The Third Floor of Kensington Palace. Image via Royal Dish blog. In this color-coded floor plan, the pink rooms are the State Apartment maintained by Historic Royal Palaces that may be visited as a museum. The violet rooms are one of four floors of Apt No. 1A. The tan rooms are Apt 1, now occupied by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (Prince Richard); formerly it was the home of his mother, Princess Alice, and the home of Princess Marina before that. The green rooms are Apt 8/9, formerly the apartment of Diana, Princess of Wales; part (or all) of it is now used as The Prince's Drawing School. The golden rooms are the apartment of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.  A proposal to improve the public entrance, with the architectural changes not realized. Image via Historic Royal Palaces. The current renovation of No. 1A underway for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is reportedly costing approximately $1.52 million. Some news sources are guessing that the interior design is being carried out by antiques dealer & designer Annabel Elliot, the sister of Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, William's stepmother. However, the media had seen Catherine shopping at up-scale speciality retail shops for nursery items and there has been speculation that Kelly Hoppen has contributed to that room at least.  An alternate new public entrance to Kensington Palace. This design, with a few changes, was built. Image by John Simpson Architects via London Evening Standard. Kensington Palace has also been in the news for the GBP 12 million refurbishment in honor of the Queen's Jubilee. It is unique that it is the only British royal palace where the general public can visit the garden and the ground floor of the State Apartments wing free of charge. John Simpson Architects, one of Prince Charles' favorites, designed the new ticket court and the new public entrance, the latter being controversial for its design. (After the first design for the entrance was rejected, an alternate that was lower and not attached to the building was submitted as a compromise). A new garden approach was designed by Todd Longstaffe-Gowan. A previous post of The Devoted Classicist about Todd and his work at Kensington Palace may be read here. A post on Todd's London home, Malplaquet House, may be read here.   Landscape architect Todd Longstaffe-Gowan at the base of the statue of Queen Victoria in the garden he designed at Kensington Palace. Photo via www.tlg-landscape.co.uk/

As the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge prepare to move into Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace this summer, Lisa Freedman revisits the house during its 1960s heyday, when Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon were the glamorous royal couple in residence…

A "Freedman's Home" in Louisiana. Once "freed", many of the former slaves and their children had no where to go. These are the houses built mostly during the "Slave Years" --- before the Civil War, and Lincoln's "Emancipation Proclamation" . *************************************** "......On Tuesday, July 30, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives issued an unprecedented apology to black Americans for the institution of slavery, and the subsequent Jim Crows laws that for years discriminated against blacks as second-class citizens in American society......" NPR www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93059465&am... Okinawa_Soba has a lot original images of the descendants of slaves in America, as well as several showing actual slaves who were "freed" during the America's Civil War. To match these images, he also has a box of 19th Century and early 20th Century images of "Black Africa", showing the tribes, roots, and culture that is now a universe away from the modern day existence of "African Americans". Behind the faces of these few images I'm posting here, are lives and experiences that most White people in America will never understand -- either then, or now. [This caption is the same for all. If you have read this far, no need to do so for all the others with the same picture Title]

The Duke of Cambridge's new role as an air ambulance pilot is likely to lead to his young family basing themselves at Anmer Hall, their country home

Kensington Palace from the southeast. The wing containing Apartment No. 1A overlooks a private garden to the south. With the anticipation of the birth of an heir to the British throne, an up-grade in accommodations at Kensington Palace was granted William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Soon improvements will be complete on the largest of the private apartments at Kensington Palace, No. 1A. This is a reversal of policy from a few years a go that royal residency at Kensington Palace would be phased out. No. 1A was last occupied by Princess Margaret who died in 2002.  An aerial view of Kensington Palace via mail.co.uk This is a near repeat of about fifty years ago when the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, married Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960 and received a relatively minor apartment in Kensington Palace. But when Margaret informed the Queen of her pregnancy, No. 1A was assigned to the young family. The apartment occupies a section of the clock tower wing designed by Sir Christopher Wren for King William and Queen Mary in the 17th century. It had been occupied by Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Louise, until her death in 1939, then by Victoria's grandson, the Marquess of Carisbrooke.  Apartment No. 1A is to the right (south) of the Clock Court.   No. 1A is essentially a four-story attached house, what would be called a terrace house in England. Most sources cite it as having 20 rooms but others list it as having 57 rooms, which seems to be counting the service rooms such as the linen storeroom, the luggage room, a drying room, a pantry just for crystal, and a photographic studio.   The entrance to the Clock Court in the 1920s. An 18 month renovation for the Snowdons was provided through an allotment of GBP 85,000 plus a matching amount (largely used for furnishings) from their private income, minus a gift of GBP 20,000 provided by the Queen.  A vintage view of the Entrance Hall of No. 1A. Photo via Royal Dish blog. The main reception rooms are on the ground floor with the Entrance Hall acting as a spine along the inner courtyard, running the entire length of the wing. There's an elegant Drawing Room, a Dining Room, a Study used by Lord Snowdon, a Conservatory, and a Guest Cloak Room (which we would call a Powder Room).  Princess Margaret in her Drawing Room, circa 1981, Apartment No. 1A, Kensington Palace. Photo via Easy Branches blog. Lord Snowdon's uncle, Oliver Messel, advised on the décor, as did Snowdon's lifelong friend, Carl Toms, a set designer. The Regency Style Drawing Room had walls of kingfisher blue with a custom made neo-classical rug designed by Toms.   The Dining Room, in a photo believed to be taken for a function after Princess Margaret's occupation. Photo via Royal Dish blog. During their courtship, Tony would prepare meals for just the two of them in his rented room and she would clean up afterwards. So the concept of a Family Kitchen was an important feature and the first for a royal palace.  The Snowdons' Kitchen. Photo via Royal Dish blog. The Kitchen was 350 square feet with modern cabinets of white and teak-patterned plastic laminate with stainless steel countertops and a sculptural exhaust hood. In addition to a 100 square foot larder, it contained all the modern conveniences of the time: a large refrigerator, a deep freezer, and a garbage disposal.  Princess Margaret in her wedding tiara in a photo by Lord Snowdon. Image via www.edur.it As customary, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon each had their own bedroom and bathroom. Hers was fitted with white marble and, as her specific request, an orchid-color sink. But a departure from tradition was having the rooms for Viscount Linley on the same floor as his parents. The baby had a night nursery and a day nursery, plus his own kitchen and bathroom. Additionally, there were three more principal bedrooms and dressing rooms, nine staff bedrooms, four staff bathrooms, two staff kitchens, and two staff sittings rooms. (Apparently the distinction between the staff rooms was due to a hierarchy among the servants). Lord Snowdon, who had studied architecture before becoming a popular photographer, insisted on some modern features such as flush doors and what we in the US would call Danish Modern detailing for his Study; in addition, he wanted some electric devices that did not meet the approval of the Ministry of Works, according to sources. What may or may not have been a coincidence, a fire delayed the Snowdons moving in.  The Third Floor of Kensington Palace. Image via Royal Dish blog. In this color-coded floor plan, the pink rooms are the State Apartment maintained by Historic Royal Palaces that may be visited as a museum. The violet rooms are one of four floors of Apt No. 1A. The tan rooms are Apt 1, now occupied by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (Prince Richard); formerly it was the home of his mother, Princess Alice, and the home of Princess Marina before that. The green rooms are Apt 8/9, formerly the apartment of Diana, Princess of Wales; part (or all) of it is now used as The Prince's Drawing School. The golden rooms are the apartment of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.  A proposal to improve the public entrance, with the architectural changes not realized. Image via Historic Royal Palaces. The current renovation of No. 1A underway for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is reportedly costing approximately $1.52 million. Some news sources are guessing that the interior design is being carried out by antiques dealer & designer Annabel Elliot, the sister of Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, William's stepmother. However, the media had seen Catherine shopping at up-scale speciality retail shops for nursery items and there has been speculation that Kelly Hoppen has contributed to that room at least.  An alternate new public entrance to Kensington Palace. This design, with a few changes, was built. Image by John Simpson Architects via London Evening Standard. Kensington Palace has also been in the news for the GBP 12 million refurbishment in honor of the Queen's Jubilee. It is unique that it is the only British royal palace where the general public can visit the garden and the ground floor of the State Apartments wing free of charge. John Simpson Architects, one of Prince Charles' favorites, designed the new ticket court and the new public entrance, the latter being controversial for its design. (After the first design for the entrance was rejected, an alternate that was lower and not attached to the building was submitted as a compromise). A new garden approach was designed by Todd Longstaffe-Gowan. A previous post of The Devoted Classicist about Todd and his work at Kensington Palace may be read here. A post on Todd's London home, Malplaquet House, may be read here.   Landscape architect Todd Longstaffe-Gowan at the base of the statue of Queen Victoria in the garden he designed at Kensington Palace. Photo via www.tlg-landscape.co.uk/