Great ROYAL BREAKS

Be inspired by the coronation of King Charles III and plan a visit to one of these royal residences

- SAM MURRAY

Kensington Palace, London

Transformed from a mere suburban mansion into a royal retreat in 1689, Kensington Palace has been a mainstay for monarchs for more than three centuries. Queen Victoria spent her formative years here, as did Princes William and Harry.

• Access to the gardens is free, and includes a bronze statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden, commissioned by her sons in 2017. Enter the palace itself (£25.40) to see magnificent royal apartments, including a recreation of the rooms in which Queen Victoria grew up as a young princess.

Where to stay For a smart hotel choice, try Z Covent Garden. It's a 30-minute tube and walk to Kensington Palace, 16 minutes to Buckingham Palace, and a 25-minute riverside stroll to Westminster Abbey. Rooms from £70; thezhotels.com

Balmoral Castle & Estate, Aberdeenshire 

The Balmoral Estate is privately owned rather than a state residence. It was purchased by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria in 1852, as he judged the original castle too small for a royal household.