The iconic centrepiece of a major £3 million refurbishment for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground is receiving its final touches at a workshop in Germany, ahead of its journey to London.
A New Flagship for a Royal Playground
Staff from The Royal Parks charity, which manages the site, have travelled to Bavaria to inspect the impressive new structure before its maiden voyage to the UK. The playground, located in Kensington Gardens right next to the late Princess's former home at Kensington Palace, is the most visited playground in the United Kingdom, welcoming around one million visitors every year.
The beloved attraction closed for its extensive refurbishment in the autumn of 2025. The Royal Parks stated the significant investment was essential as the existing play equipment had "reached the end of its life". The ambitious project is set for completion, with the playground scheduled to reopen in the summer of 2026.
Crafted in the Alps for Decades of Play
The stunning new centrepiece is a 12-metre tall, full-scale wooden galleon, designed to capture children's imaginations just as the original Peter Pan-themed ship did when the playground first opened in 2000. The new vessel boasts exciting features including:
- A thrilling tunnel slide.
- Two crow's nests for climbing and lookout.
- A ramped entrance to the main deck to ensure full disabled access.
This majestic ship is being constructed in the village of Frasdorf, nestled in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, by the specialist firms Timberplay and Richter Spielgerate. Notably, Richter Spielgerate also designed the original galleon over two decades ago.
The galleon is built using mountain larch wood sourced from sustainably managed forests in the Alps. The harsh growing conditions there result in an extremely slow growth rate, producing timber that is remarkably strong and naturally resistant to rot. This high-quality material eliminates the need for chemical treatments.
Honouring a Princess's Legacy
Andy Williams, the manager of Kensington Gardens, emphasised the playground's enduring spirit. He told the Press Association that the design "really reaches to children's imaginations, it lets them set free in a safe space." He added that the revamped area remains "in the spirit of Princess Diana, we've kept faithful to that."
The overall renovation will not only feature the magnificent galleon but also introduce a new treehouse, a redesigned water play area, and a dedicated new zone for children under three years old.
Paul Collings, Managing Director at Timberplay, expressed pride in the project: "This new galleon and treehouse will reinforce the space as a benchmark for public play, delighting millions of children for years to come." Peter Heuken from Richter Spielgerate, who worked on both the 2000 and 2026 ships, shared a heartfelt perspective: "If equipment is not just rotting away, but it is run through and worn out by children, then this is the biggest compliment one can get."
