The author must here once again--as in works of a similar nature elsewhere--express his obligations for the kind assistance he has received from all those who have charge of the Queen's palaces--the Hon. Sir Spencer Ponsonby Fane, G.C.B., Comptroller of Her Majesty's Household; the Hon. Reginald Brett, C.B., Secretary of Her Majesty's Board of Works and Buildings; Sir John Taylor, K.C.B., Consulting Architect and Surveyor to the Board; and Mr. Philip, Clerk of the Works at Kensington Palace.
At the same time he wishes to make it clear that for the information contained herein, and for the opinions and views expressed, he himself is alone responsible.
Here also the author must make his acknowledgments to the editor of "The Gentlewoman," who has kindly lent him the blocks for the portraits of the Queen.
It may be as well to take this opportunity of emphasizing what is more fully insisted on in subsequent pages, that Kensington Palace, as a public resort, is not to be considered in the light of an Art Gallery, but as a Palace with historical pictures in it. The clear understanding of this may prevent misapprehension as to the scheme followed in restoring the state rooms to their original state, where the pictures--and their frames--are arranged on the walls as a part only of their furniture and decoration.
Finally, it may be observed that though the outline of the history of the Palace, prefixed to the description of the State Rooms, has necessarily been brief, the Queen's early life, and the interesting events that took place here in June 1837, seemed to require a fuller treatment. These, therefore, have been described in detail, mainly in the words of eye-witnesses, which, though they have often been printed before, may, being repeated here, acquire--the compiler has thought--a new vividness and interest, when read on the very spot where they were enacted; and thus insure for these famous scenes an even wider popularity than before.
Kensington Palace, built by William and Mary, occupied by Queen Anne as one of her favourite residences, enlarged by George I. and greatly appreciated by George II. and his queen, Caroline, has received a greater renown and more interesting associations from having been the birthplace and early home of Queen Victoria. In celebration of the eightieth anniversary of that ever-memorable and auspicious event, Her Majesty decided on opening the State Apartments free to the public on the 24th of May, 1899, during Her Majesty's pleasure.