Page 82 - BBC History - September 2017

OUT&ABOUT

HISTORY EXPLORER

The decline of George III

Charlotte Hodgman and Amanda Foreman explore
Kew Palace in Richmond, where King George III was
incarcerated during several bouts of mental illness

trolling through the Royal of Saxe-Gotha, in relative isolation at Kew
Botanic Gardens at Kew on Palace, the young prince struggled with his
a summer’s day is a veritable studies, unable to read properly until the age
assault on the senses. Lush of 11, but diligent and keen to learn. The
green lawns stretch far into Dutch House became a schoolhouse for the
Sthe distance; row upon row young prince and his brother.
of colourful plants and flowers turn their “When George III became king in 1760,
faces to the sun, their many scents rising in the country was delighted and full of hope,”
the heat. So dazzling is the foliage that it is says historian and presenter Amanda
easy to miss the 17th-century, four-storey Foreman. “For the first time since Queen
red-brick house, small by royal standards Anne in 1714, Britain was to be ruled by a
which is one of the few surviving parts of the monarch who had been born in England.
Kew Palace complex. George II had been deeply unpopular for his
Although today referred to as Kew Palace, long periods of absence, so hopes were high
the site was originally known as the Dutch that George III would be a king who would
House, with a far more impressive uphold British traditions and values.”
Palladian-style building standing opposite. At first it seemed George would tick all
Commissioned by Frederick, Prince of the boxes required of a good British king.
Wales in 1730 and named the White House, Despite his early struggles he was exception-
today just a sundial marks the site of that ally well educated with a deep passion for
long-gone royal residence. learning. He had been taught about the
It is for its connection with one of Britain’s arts and architecture by leading architect
most famous monarchs that Kew Palace is Sir William Chambers; he understood
perhaps best remembered. George III, the mathematics and science; he loved music
so-called ‘mad king’, was incarcerated here and sport. He was a Renaissance man in
during some of the episodes of mental illness many ways.
that plagued much of his adult life. George married Princess Charlotte
of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1761 and the
A time of hope rapidly expanding royal family took over
Born in 1738, almost two months Richmond Lodge at Kew, with their eventual
premature, the future George III 15 children housed in various buildings
became heir to the throne at the around the estate.
age of 12 following the death
of his father Frederick, America is lost!
Prince of Wales. Raised by Yet the good times weren’t to last.
his mother, Princess Augusta “George was incredibly unlucky to
have acceded to the throne
when he did,” explains
Foreman. “He was BRIDGEMAN/ALAMY
The “much maligned”
George III in a immediately plunged
portrait by Johann into the political
Zoffany, 1771

82 BBC History Magazine