PRESS

RELEASE

For immediate release: 23 October 2019

Documents from the Royal Archives provide new insights into the life of George IV

More than 1,600 records and documents relating to George IV (1762–1830) from the Royal Archives have been digitised and published online for the first time as part of the Georgian Papers Programme. Including both private and official papers, the newly released material sheds fresh light on the ’s life, relationships and interests. It covers a wide range of topics: from the political, such as the Regency crisis of 1788-9 and George, Prince of Wales’s desire for military promotion, to the personal, such as correspondence relating to the Prince’s relationship with Mary Hamilton and his unsuccessful marriage to Princess Caroline of Brunswick.

Among the documents are:

 A letter dated 25 May 1779, from the teenage George, Prince of Wales to Mary Hamilton, a lady of the court who was six years his senior and one of his early infatuations. Mary resisted his charms, and became a trusted friend and confidante. Their correspondence reveals much about the social and emotional world of the young Prince.

 Letters dated 1789, from George, Prince of Wales to the Cabinet and his mother, Queen Charlotte, during his father George III’s bout of mental illness. The Prince argues against Prime Minister William Pitt’s proposal for a limited Regency, which would have left the King’s Household under the authority of the Queen.

 A letter dated 18 June 1793, from Frederick, Duke of York to his brother George, Prince of Wales, which shows their close relationship and shared interest in military affairs. Frederick thanks George ‘for the pistols as well as for the peppermint cordial which is remarkably good’ and writes an account of the Siege of Valenciennes, where he commanded German and British Allied troops in one of the major battles of the 1793 Flanders campaign against Revolutionary France.

 A letter dated 8 April 1795, from George III to George, Prince of Wales, in response to his son’s repeated requests for military promotion. The King states that he only ordered the Prince's current commission of Colonel Commandant of the 10th Regiment of Dragoons on the understanding that no higher rank would be attained by the Prince and expresses the wish that his son turns his attention to his recent marriage.

 A letter dated 25 April 1795, from George, Prince of Wales to Princess Caroline of Brunswick written a few weeks after their wedding and highlighting the problems that

Press Office, Trust, York House, St James’s Palace, London SW1A 1BQ T. +44 (0)20 7839 1377, [email protected], www.rct.uk

already existed within their marriage. A year later, the Prince of Wales sought a separation from his wife.

 Inventories listing thousands of items of furniture, art, decorative arts and other material formerly in Carlton House, the private residence of George, Prince of Wales, providing evidence of how the rooms were decorated, furnished and used. George IV’s passion for collecting will be explored in the exhibition George IV: Art & Spectacle at The Queen’s Gallery, (15 November 2019 – 3 May 2020).

The Georgian Papers Programme is a partnership between Royal Collection Trust, lead academic partner King's College London and international participants, including primary US partners the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture and William & Mary, as well as other key US institutions, such as the Library of Congress, Mount Vernon and the Sons of the American Revolution. The Programme is transforming access to and interpretation of more than 425,000 pages of historic documents in the Royal Archives and Royal Library relating to the Georgian period. To date, more than 125,000 pages have been published and made freely available online.

Ends https://georgianpapers.com

For further information and images please contact the Royal Collection Trust Press Office, +44 (0)20 7839 1377, [email protected]

Notes to Editors

Royal Collection Trust, a department of the Royal Household, is responsible for the care of the Royal Collection and manages the public opening of the official residences of The Queen. Income generated from admissions and from associated commercial activities contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The aims of The Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational programmes. Royal Collection Trust’s work is undertaken without public funding of any kind.

The Royal Archives contain the official and private papers of the Sovereign and other members of the British Royal Family, together with the records of the Royal Household and the private Royal estates. This unparalleled collection reflects and records some of the most significant moments in British history and provides a fascinating insight into the lives of monarchs and their families. The Royal Archives have been housed in the Round Tower at since 1914.

King's College London is one of the top 10 UK universities in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2018/19) and is among the oldest universities in England. King's has an outstanding reputation for world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. Since its foundation, King’s students and staff have dedicated themselves in the service of society. King’s will continue to focus on world-leading education, research and service, and will have an increasingly proactive role to play in a more interconnected, complex world. World-changing ideas. Life- changing impact: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/headlines.aspx

Press Office, Royal Collection Trust, York House, St James’s Palace, London SW1A 1BQ T. +44 (0)20 7839 1377, [email protected], www.rct.uk

The Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture (OI) supports scholars and scholarship focused on the expansive field of early American history. The OI has produced a deep bench of award-winning scholarly monographs, published the leading journal in the field, the William and Mary Quarterly, and sponsored events including conferences designed to bring together scholars for robust exchange. The OI also offers a range of fellowship programs and a rigorous training program for editorial apprentices. The OI’s rich history can be explored through its archive of publications, programs, and fellowship recipients. Housed on the campus of its primary sponsor William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, the Institute of Early American History & Culture is an independent research organization established in 1943. The name of benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Malvern H. Omohundro, Jr., was added in 1996 in recognition of their generous support of the OI.

William & Mary is a public university located in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded by Royal Charter in 1693, it is the second oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. William & Mary has a long history of liberal arts education and a growing research and science curriculum that demonstrates a strong commitment to undergraduate research. The school has a student body of approximately 8,500 students with a 12-to-1 student-faculty ratio. Known as ‘the alma mater of the nation’, William & Mary has educated three American presidents: Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and John Tyler – with George Washington serving as its first American chancellor.

Press Office, Royal Collection Trust, York House, St James’s Palace, London SW1A 1BQ T. +44 (0)20 7839 1377, [email protected], www.rct.uk