Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Mayor, Councillor James Husband, today visited Kensington Palace to preside over the citizenship ceremony of eight new citizens to the borough. Whilst on his visit the Mayor was taken on a tour, led by Palace Director Nigel Arch, of Kensington Palace’s major £12m project ‘Welcome to Kensington - a palace for everyone’.
Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity that cares for the palace, is undertaking the £12 million project to re-present the palace and improve visitor facilities by spring 2012 and will transform Kensington into an exciting, engaging and inspirational visitor experience. The plans will introduce new education and community facilities, improve accessibility, reconnect the palace with the neighbouring park through new public gardens inspired by the area's historic landscape, and realise the ambition to open up the palace's rich and varied stories to the widest possible audience.
The Worshipful The Mayor, Councillor James Husband, said “I am very pleased to have had a chance to see progress being made on this important project. Kensington Palace is at the heart of the Royal Borough in every sense. I am sure these works when complete will bring even more visitors to a building that tells so much of the story of the modern monarchy”.
Nigel Arch, Kensington Palace Director on behalf of Historic Royal Palaces, said “It’s wonderful to welcome the Mayor of the Royal Borough to Kensington Palace today and it is absolutely right that we also welcome new British citizens to the palace where so much of our nation’s history has been made by monarchs and people since 1689”.
Visitors to the palace are currently being offered the invitation to take a closer look at the changes taking place on one of our limited monthly tours* (12 February, 12 March, 16 April, 14 May 2011) of the project site. Kensington Palace director Nigel Arch will lead the group around the building site and visitors can find out more about our plans for the future of the palace and the local area surrounding the building.
*Participation on the site tour is free of charge and does not include entry to the Enchanted Palace at Kensington Palace. Maximum of 15 people per tour. Advanced booking necessary essential To book your place call 0844 482 7799
