The Prince and Princess of Wales’ London residence is a beautiful 20-room wing at Kensington Palace. This post takes a look inside Apartment 1A, from its history to its present day decor, including its now-famous refined drawing room:

When Prince William married Catherine Middleton in 2011, the couple had been living together in the 2-bedroom starter home; Nottingham Cottage, on the grounds of Kensington Palace. Once the duo tied the knot they were offered a family residence within the palace itself; Apartment 1A. Though named an ‘apartment’ the residence is not a flat in the American sense, it is ‘a part’ of the larger palace structure and is actually more of a four-storey eleven-bay townhouse, formerly the home of Queen Elizabeth II’s sister Princess Margaret, who had lived in the ‘apartment’ from 1963 to her death is 2002.

With almost 50 years since its last renovation, the apartment required a huge overhaul including the removal of asbestos and upgrading plumbing and electrics which had remained untouched for decades. While the property was being renewed, the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge split their time between Nottingham Cottage and their rented home in Anglesey, Wales, where Prince William worked as an air ambulance pilot, donating his salary to charity.

The apartment is located on the southern flank of the palace, at the opposite end to Apartments 8 & 9, which was the residence to Prince Williams parents, The Prince and Princess of Wales in the 1980s, as well as the home Prince William and his brother grew up in. Today, Apartments 8 & 9 are the official offices of William and Catherine.

The couple and their newborn, Prince George, officially moved into the apartment in October 2013, and the interiors remained closely guarded by the private family, until three years later a visit by the then president of the United States resulted in the first peek into the home. In April 2016, the presidential motorcade of President Obama rolled into the courtyard outside Apartment 1A where the then President and First Lady Michelle Obama were met by the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The brief photo-op was followed by an informal get together and dinner inside Apartment 1A.

Photographs, taken by official White House photographer Pete Souza, were subsequently released by The White House to commemorate the second meeting between the Cambridges and the Obamas, and their growing friendship. It was the first time the interiors of Apartment 1A were seen since the renovation and gave insight into the private lives of the young family. Original elements, such as the door pediments, fireplace surrounds, internal window shutters, original wood doors and even the black-and-white floor tiles in the entrance hall all remained intact, while contemporary comforts and stylish fittings turned the high-ceiling, large-window space into a welcoming home.

The interiors perfectly combine the traditional with the contemporary like the homes of many old money families. Antique oil paintings hang above framed photos and ceramic lamps, historic furnishings from the royal archives litter the rooms, with family photos, candles and books on top. A beautifully polished piano sits in the corner, which Kate is known to play, while a handcrafted rocking horse gifted to Prince George by the Obamas, sits beside a window

The interiors of Apartment 1A were overseen by Catherine, with the talented eye of Ben Pentreath who also decorated Anmer Hall. New pieces purchased for the home can be seen in Pete Souza’s images, including a classical-inspired alabaster urn lamp by Vaughan Designs, which can be seen behind Kate and Michelle, these lamps originally retailed for £900 each. It was also noted by Catherine during a 2018 royal visit to Sweden that the children’s rooms are furnished with IKEA furniture.

Years later, some select photos were released giving more glimpses inside the apartment, this time showing the evolution of the room’s style, including the addition of a traditional door between rooms unlike the 2016 ‘hidden door’. The layout of sofas and armchairs has also changed, some wall art has been replaced with a antique mirror, bolder prints are used on cushions, lampshades and the central ottoman, now upholstered in a dazzling floral design.

William welcomes New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern to Kensington Palacehttps://t.co/4elro9Om1K

— ITV News (@itvnews) July 2, 2022

Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the home comprises of twenty rooms (not including bathrooms or store rooms) set over four floors, with five reception rooms including two drawing rooms, three ‘principle’ bedrooms with their own dressing rooms and ensuite bathrooms, in addition to a day nursery and night nursery, along with minor accommodation and ancillary rooms such as a luggage room, linen store and pantry. There’s a basement floor featuring a gym and a laundry room, as well as an attic floor, which houses nine staff bedrooms, served by a lift (elevator). During the 2012 renovations, it was reported that the couple decided to spend £170,000 of their own money on a new kitchen.

The image below shows a recent photograph of what is considered the ‘modest’ entrance to the apartment, showing the same flooring, mouldings, doors and plasterwork from before Princess Margaret’s time in the house, and giving you an idea of the scale of the home:

See more of William and Catherine’s royal homes in this previous post, or take a look at the childhood homes of Kate Middleton in this post. Alternatively, browse various royal residences, from inside Windsor Castle, Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle, under the ‘royalty‘ tag.

images: goole maps, Pete Souza for the White House, @KensingtonPalace