Residents around Kensington Palace have made their opposition known. They are especially concerned about a past extravaganza runway show put on by Burberry in Perks Field, one of the landscape’s picturesque private gardens tended to by the Prince & Princess of Wales. Humanizing the space was the fact that the event landed during London Fashion Week. It included a beautiful glasshouse theatre, constructed exclusively for the celebratory event. While the show showcased the latest in fashion, it has ignited complaints from local residents about potential disruptions.
Perks Field is a historic jewel at Kensington Palace. It having hosted such diverse events as the high-profile 2012 Olympic Games and the Decorex interior design festival, attracting over 11,000 of the world’s leading interior design professionals. The Royal Household and Crown Estate were a few weeks prior engaged in consultation with local residents about the Burberry show. As you might expect, community members are understandably nervous about what all of this could mean. They fear the negative impacts of more traffic, noise pollution, and trash.
The local association of residents, in addition to the High Commissioner of India, expressed their concerns in advance of the performance. They’re concerned that the influx of attendees for the glamourous fashion event will interrupt their daily lives. This will greatly exacerbate the unbearable congestion problems the area already faced prior to the pandemic. These are valid concerns, but they are concerns that have not greatly impacted the many events held on those fields over the years.
Kensington Palace’s fields have long been a location for different variety shows and displays. For instance, during the 2012 Olympics, the Russian Olympic Committee leased the pitches. Cromwell responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prince William went into action and let air ambulances refuel on a private lawn at Kensington Palace. This decision more than halved their travel distance to their nearest fueling base in Watford. Beyond this decision, it reinforced the idea that the royal family is dedicated to serving the community, especially through trying times.
Burberry has a reputation for leading the charge in using the grounds of Kensington Palace to host its London Fashion Week shows. With the brand’s past events being highly successful and fluid, future residents remain concerned about the impact that more organized events could have on them. Instead, they are focused on protecting the quiet residential character of their neighborhood from the intrusion of major, high-profile events that attract national or international attention.
