Kensington Palace reopened to the public today after a £12million transformation.
The revamp means that some of the palace’s private areas will go on display for the first time.
Highlights of the new-look Palace include a special exhibition dedicated to Queen Victoria, who was born at the royal residence and lived there until she turned 18.
There will also be a special exhibition of some of Princess Diana's dresses and visitors will be able to uncover royal secrets in the beautiful Queen's State Apartments.
Centrepiece: The statue of Queen Victoria sculpted by her daughter Princess Louise has been spruced up
Most impressively, the Palace’s grounds have been opened out. The iron railings around the front of the palace have been removed with only the original ‘Golden Gates’ remaining, while unobtrusive chest-height railings stretch around a new meadow. All the hedges and trees that were planted to seal off the outside world have been stripped away.
Visitors now have a completely uncluttered view of the grounds landscaped by Charles Bridgeman in the early 18th century and the palace itself.
Sitting in pride of place is the statue of Queen Victoria sculpted by her daughter, Princess Louise.
The new Jubilee Garden will become the public entrance to the Palace, instead of the palace’s south-facing ‘Golden Gates’.
Blooming marvellous: Kensington Palace's stunning restored formal gardens
For the first time ever members of the public will be able to wander into a royal palace without a ticket.
Visitors can simply walk straight up to the new front door, a covered portico known as the Diamond Jubilee Loggia, or approach via a hornbeam-lined zig-zag called the Wiggly Way.
They will then enter into ‘The White Court’ where they will be greeted by a light sculpture called Luminous Lace, which is made of more than two miles of electroluminescent wire and apparently replicates a royal lace pattern.
From there they will be steered towards one the grand ticket office - a covered courtyard decked out like a multi-storey four-poster bed - where they can choose from four exhibitions spanning four centuries.
Light fantastic: The Palace's light sculpture Luminous Lace, which is made of more than two miles of electroluminescent wire and apparently replicates a royal lace pattern
One such exhibition entitled Victoria Revealed is dedicated to Queen Victoria and traces her life from her earliest days as a baby to the death of Prince Albert.
It features the Red Saloon where 100 members of the Privy Council proclaimed Victoria as Sovereign in 1837 following the death of her uncle, William IV.
One of the items on display in the room is the tiny dress that the 18 year-old Victoria was wearing at the time.
Tribute: Artist Julie Verhoeven has created wallpaper that features cartoonish sketches of Princess Diana
The team behind the revamp hope the it will appeal to all ages and tastes and aim to boost visitor numbers from 300,000 to upwards of 400,000.
‘We’ve set out to awaken a sleeping beauty,’ announced Charles Mackay, the chairman of Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity which runs the place.
As the Palace receives no Government subsidy, the £12 million refurbishment has been paid for with Lottery funding and support from charitable trusts like the Clore Duffield, Gosling and Rothermere foundations.
Tickets will cost £14.50 for adults, £12 for concessions and children will get in free. Visit www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPalace
