Kensington Palace

It is always a reflective time when I visit Kensington Palace. Sure, I love all the history, particularly related to Queen Victoria and Princess Margaret who both lived here. But, obviously my biggest reflection is Diana. Everybody remembers where they were when they heard the news. I was living in London that year and remember feeling devastated as I travelled around France and Spain at that moment in time. I watched the funeral in Spain and the normally busy streets were completely void of people. It was eerie. Such a waste… Such an outpouring of grief. Can’t believe that it is 25 years this year. I couldn’t wait to get back to London. I lined up to sign the book of condolence at Kensington Palace and I saw the amazing floral tributes in front of Kensington Palace. They were as high as me and as far as you could see…💐🌹🌺🌸🌼

Today all I had to do was walk out of my hotel room and cross the road to be at the palace. How fantastic is that? ❤️👑 I have visited and toured the palace many times but I get just as excited 😆 when I am doing it again. Today is no different! Last visit I saw Diana‘s dresses 👗 exhibition and this time the exhibition is ‘…life through the Royal lens…’📸

And, what an exhibition it is! So many wonderful photographs… some never before seen. Queen Victoria started the photographic craze mid 1850’s with her reign. There is one photograph that shows her face smudged. Queen Victoria did this to the negative because she did not approve of the way she looked. It was with her children and they all are untouched. I simply devoured all the information around the photography and how it completely changed the public perception of the Royal family… as expected, the Queen calls all the shots when ever she has a photography session.✊🏻👑

There was another story about Queen Mary crying for three days when she was to marry William. But, it became a true love story because William would not leave her side for weeks, even setting up a bed right next to her when she was sick and eventually died of smallpox.😢

I am now standing in a quiet alcove admiring the serenity of Diana‘s statue. You are no longer allowed to walk around in the sunken garden which I was at first disappointed about, but then I spoke to the gardener who explained that a sunken garden is supposed to be appreciated from a distance, as a whole… It made complete sense and made it much more serene and respectful ❤️❤️❤️🪴🌸🌹🌳🙏

This was indeed another highlight of this trip! There were not too many people so you had to complete silence to just admire and reflect. Beautiful moment 😢❤️🌹

PS: I went a little bit crazy in the gift shop! Whoops! Rule Britannia! 🤪👑 🇬🇧 🇬🇧Okumaya devam et