Massive price reductions in hire of Kensington Palace State Apartments

Friday, 05 March 2010 09:44

In the sumptuous State Apartments, leading fashion designers Vivienne Westwood, William Tempest, Stephen Jones, Boudicca, Aminaka Wilmont and illustrator/set designer Echo Morgan have each created spectacular installations in collaboration with the UK theatre company Widlworks, taking inspiration from Kensington Palace and the princesses who once lived there – Mary, Anne, Caroline, Charlotte, Victoria, Margaret and Diana. The unique contemporary designs are displayed alongside historic items from the Royal Collection and Kensington Palace’s Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, together with two dresses worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, and Princess Margaret.

The complex and mysterious world of the royal court is unveiled through interactive theatre, intimate storytelling, soundscapes, haunting film projections and a series of clues hidden throughout the historic rooms. They reveal tales of love and hate, surprise and sadness, secrets and jealousy. Prices are less than £12 a head for groups of 15 pax or more. Kensington Palace is undergoing a major transformation project There will be a new Entrance Hall, available for evening receptions for up to 200 and the Queen’s Range, a facility that will be available for both daytime and evening events. Also available for hire by event organisers will be Apt 1a, formerly the home of Princess Margaret.

Hire of the State Apartments has previously been priced at £26,000, but from April 2010 until March 2012 prices can be as low as £8,000. Also on offer is a private breakfast tour of The Enchanted Palace. It includes a champagne breakfast served at 8am within the splendour of Queen Anne’s Orangery. The price is £90 per person for a minimum of 20 guests. Complimentary tours of the exhibition can be included in the hire of the State Apartments for evening dinners and receptions.

Historic Royal Palaces is an independent charity that looks after Kensington Palace, the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House and Kew Palace. It helps visitors to explore how monarchs and others in some of the greatest palaces ever built have shaped society. The palaces are owned by the Queen. HRP receives no official funding but earns its own revenue.