Royal Palaces in London

There are many official royal residencies which have housed monarchs and their families over the centuries which give a glimpse into the rich history of England. Here's my list of palaces, starting with the oldest.

• Windsor Castle 1070. The oldest continually occupied castle in the world with over 900 years of royal history! This was the primary residence for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert until his untimely death and Queen Victoria became known as the "Widow of Windsor".
• Tower of London 1078. Built by William the Conqueror, it now famously houses the Crown Jewels. 6 ravens are kept at the tower at all time, and it is rumored "if the ravens leave the tower the Kingdom will fall..."
• Fulham Palace 1350. The site has been a residence of the Bishops of London since 704 AD, but the site dates back to 4,000 BC!
• Lambeth Palace 1435. The official London residence of The Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England. The palace is also home to the oldest garden in London.
• Hampton Court Palace 1514. A favourite of King Henry the VIII and home to his many wives. The Church of England began here to suit the need for King Henry the VIII to have multiple wives. It also has its own chocolate kitchen!
• St. James's Palace 1536. It is the official London residence of The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra, the Queen's Cousin. Queen Elizabeth II gave her first official speech as Queen of England. This is also the oldest royal residence in the whole of the UK.
• Kensington Palace 1605. Queen Victoria was born here and it is the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's official London residence. This was Princess Diana's home after she separated from Prince Charles.
• The Queen's House 1616. Built next to the now-demolished Palace of Placentia, the birthplace of Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. Be sure not to miss the Tulip Stairs!
• Banqueting House 1619. The only surviving bit of the Palace of Whitehall with the crowning jewel of Ruben's ceiling completed in 1634.
• Kew Palace 1631. The smallest of all the royal palaces. King George III hid away here while he battled mental illness after loosing the American colonies.
• Buckingham Palace 1703. The first resident was Queen Victoria and it has over 700 rooms. Tours are available to the public towards the end of the summer while the Queen is away.
• Palace of Westminster 1870. The site has been home to Parliament and modern democracy since the 13th century, but still retains status as a royal residence for ceremonial purposes. A copy of the Magna Carta is on display here. It is also illegal to die inside the walls of the palace!