Good news for Royal fans headed to the UK: The BBC is reporting that Kensington Palace will be reopened by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh later this month after a $19 million, two-year renovation.
The palace was bought by King William III and Queen Mary II in 1689 (The William and Mary for whom the Virginia college is named) and has been home to Queen Victoria, Princess Margaret and Princess Diana. Next year, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka Prince William and Catherine) will move in.
So what's new? The gardens of the palace have been landscaped, and the statue of Queen Victoria, which was damaged by shrapnel during World War II, has been restored (pictured). A grand entrance has also been created from the Round Pond in Kensington Gardens, a new elevator has been installed to provide access to all floors of the palace and new education and community facilities have been created as part of the refurbishment.
The palace also houses the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection - 10,000 items worn by royalty and courtiers since the 17th Century.
Children will receive free admission to the palace, which will host several exhibitions for the public from March 26, including a display of some of Princess Diana's dresses.