Diana Princess of Wales Sunken Garden

The Sunken Garden began its life as a functional industrial space rather than a royal retreat. In 1908, the area was occupied by potting sheds and greenhouses used to manage the broader Kensington estate. King Edward the Seventh initiated the transformation of this site, commissioning a formal design that replaced the utilitarian structures with the decorative terraces, ornamental flower beds, and central pond you see today. The layout drew its inspiration from the historic Pond Garden at Hampton Court Palace, embracing an Edwardian aesthetic that prioritized structured elegance over wild growth.