Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

Over the centuries, Kensington and its neighbor, Chelsea, have hosted many important events and significant figures. The first royal to reside in Kensington was William III who moved into Kensington Palace in 1689. Kensington Square, which dates from this time, was a failing venture until the arrival of courtiers looking for homes to rent close to the Palace. The presence of the royal court was a sharp spur to Kensington's development. Although no reigning monarch was resident after 1760, Kensington Palace continued to influence the parish. But on May 24 1819 the future Queen was born there, residing at the Palace until her accession to the throne in 1837. I 1901, in accordance with the late Queen's wishes that her place of birth should have distinction, King Edward VII conferred on Kensington the title 'Royal Borough'.

Chelsea also had links with royalty. In 1536 Henry VIII acquired the manor of Chelsea and the future Queen Elizabeth I was a resident there for a time. James I founded a theological college on a site later to be occupied by The Royal Hospital. Founded by Charles II for the care of permanantly disabled soldiers, the Hospital is still there today and its uniformed residents have become known worldwide as the Chelsea Pensioners.