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The haunting, the party house, the wedding venue: 5 things you didn't know about Kensington Palace

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Prince William and Kate Middleton (Photo: Getty Images)
Prince William and Kate Middleton (Photo: Getty Images)

Kensington Palace is home to Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their three children, but there's so much you probably didn't know about the royal residence.

For one, Kensington Palace, which is also home to Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, is frequently used as a wedding venue – and not just by the royals – while also housing a few ghosts.

Yes, you read that correctly. Ever heard of Peter, the wild boy?

Here are five things you probably didn't know about Kensington Palace:

1. It's haunted

According to Business Insider, William, Kate, and the kids live in apartment 1A, which is four storeys-high, comprised of 20 rooms and has a beautiful view of Hyde Park.

It also reportedly has a ghost, who casually roams the nursery where Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis sleep.

We're not kidding.

'Peter the wild boy' is actually a famous figure who, according to legend, was found naked and alone living off the land by King George's men in the 1700s before he was brought to the UK. Apparently, he never left. There's even a painting of him still hanging in the palace today.

According to Glamour, King George's ghost also lurks around the King's Gallery moaning his alleged last words: "Why won't they come?"

2. Harry, Meghan, and Princess Diana all stayed at Kensington Palace

A very royal starter home, but a starter home nonetheless – Harry and Meghan also stayed in Kensington Palace before their move to Frogmore Cottage.

Other notable royals who stayed on the estate include Princess Margaret as well as Princess Diana.

Apartment 8 – which is now the duke and duchess of Cambridge's office – remained home to the people's princess from her wedding day until she died. According to Town & Country, an estimated 60 million flowers were laid outside the palace following the news of her death in 1997.

Princess Diana
Princess Diana

(FLOWERS FOR DIANA: In an overwhelming outpouring of grief and sympathy, bouquets of flowers were left at Kensington Palace, for Diana. Photo: Getty Images)

3. Kensington Palace, aka, the party house

Princess Margaret hosted some pretty big ragers at Kensington Palace when she stayed there with her photographer husband, Anthony Armstrong Jones in the 60s, reports Guide London.

Her famous parties included a few very famous guests, including Elizabeth Taylor and the Beatles.

4. You too can get married at Kensington Palace!

You don't have to be a royal to have your wedding at Kensington Palace. According to E! News, the Orangery, which is located inside the adjacent Kensington Gardens, is open to the public for bookings.

It can accommodate between 150 and 300 guests and costs around $23 100 (R354 890) for a day wedding and $15 800 (R242 738) for an evening reception. Casual.

Nicky Hilton and James Rothschild tied the knot at the palace in 2015.

Nicky Hilton


(A CELEBRITY WEDDING: Nicky Hilton married James Rothschild at Kensington Palace. Photo: Getty Images)

5. What led to the estate becoming a royal residence? Asthma

According to Gem Hotels, before it was named Kensington Palace, the estate was known as Nottingham House and was built for Sir George Coppin, one of London's wealthy businessmen.

Only in the 17th century did it become home to King William and Queen Mary when they assumed the throne in 1689.

They were househunting, and Whitehall Palace was too close to the River Thames, messing with William's asthma. So they opted for little ol' Kensington Palace instead.  

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