Kensington: Home of Stuart, Hanover, and Windsor…

With all this excitement in the air over the impending arrival of the royal baby, what better place is there to visit than…

…Kensington Palace, residence of members of the royal family since 1689, from the House of Stuart, to the House of Hanover, and, today, Windsor…

…Today’s residents of Kensington…

As previously indicated, the house has been a royal residence since 1689, the year that William III and Mary II bought it from Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham and then-Secretary of State, for they wanted a residence in an area better suited for the asthmatic William…The area of the house that’s open to the public is full of interesting paintings, personal objects (such as gowns from Queen Victoria, Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, and Lady Di) and, of course, dramatic history…

…Some of QE2 and her sister’s dresses from the ’50s-’70s…

After leaving the Palace, we ended our afternoon perusing through Harrod’s, what is unquestionably THE most iconic department store in all of London…

Obviously, this being a very, very ritzy place, I couldn’t take photos inside–but I’ll leave all the describing to the Internet…

Now, I’m a girl with simple tastes and desires, who doesn’t ask for much in this life–I mean, some good caviar, a silver sapphire and diamond Rolex, and a 25,000 pound Impressionist portrait by José Royo isn’t asking for too much, is it???…Ah, besides more global travel, it is my life’s dream to find myself a very wealthy (and generous) friend who’d be more than happy to give me whatever I want–all while keeping my virtue (I am a dignified young lady, thank-you-very-much)…

Speaking of shopping, for those who are looking for a more bargain-based shopping spree, I recommend Camden Market, which is basically a junction of flea-market style retail shops…I’m definitely hitting this place up when the time comes to shop for souvenirs, but I’m just pissed that all those cute 1950’s-style sundresses there aren’t offered in my size–what does the fuller-figured woman have to do to get some stylish clothes in London, one of the fashion capitals in the world (note that this is a semi-legit question)???