McBurney
Recommendation: King George III’s Bicentennial of his Death on January
29, 1820
January 29, 2020
will be the 200th anniversary of the death of King George III. According
to a statement by Kew Palace in London (thanks to Patrick Wamsley for finding
it):
He is the monarch best known for losing both the American colonies
and his mind - perhaps the most famous mental breakdown in British history. But
a new royal exhibition hopes to alter the long-held public perception of the
“madness” of King George III, moving away from what is deemed an outdated term
in order to better understand his life and mental health issues. Historic Royal
Palaces (HRP) will use the 200th anniversary of King George’s death to open up
a broader conversation about male mental health. The exhibition, "George
III: The Mind Behind The Myth," will not define him by his “madness” - a
term popularised by the long-running Alan Bennett play, "The Madness of
George III" and later adapted for the Oscar-winning film "The Madness
Of King George"
The Prince of Wales [Prince Charles] has revealed that King George
III is the monarch he most respects, describing him as a good man who was
misunderstood. Prince Charles: "George III led Britain through 60
years of enormous social upheaval, industrial revolution and terrible hardships
inflicted by war with Napoleon. Yet history remembers him above all as the 'mad
king' or the 'king who lost America'. This is a travesty."
Kew Palace is the
smallest of all the royal palaces. It was originally built as a
fashionable mansion for wealthy London silk merchant, Samuel Fortrey in 1631.
It was here that the young George spent much of his childhood, learning
the art of kingship under the tutelage of some of the most celebrated
theologians, architects and musicians of the day. Kew reflects the
intimate personal and domestic life of Georgian kings and queens for much of
the 18th century. Today the interior of this tiny, atmospheric palace tells the
powerful story of George III, his mental illness and the members of his family
who lived and died there.
Once a place for
summer relaxation and family life, Kew fell under the shadow of George III’s
mental illness. The King was incarcerated there during his first bout of
‘madness’ in 1788. Away from the public gaze, in the peace and seclusion of
Kew, an increasingly desperate band of doctors tried to cure him. The King
survived being administered powerful emetics and laxatives, freezing baths and
leeching. He was also put into a strait-jacket if he refused to
co-operate. He recovered by 1789, but suffered recurrences in 1801 and 1804,
before suffering a severe decline in 1810. A regency was declared in 1811.
A tour of Kew
Palace is included in the price of a Kew Gardens ticket. It is now closed
for the winter.
- Christian
McBurney
