| Collection | George III: Genius of the Mad King documentary |
| Description | Robert Fulke Greville (1751-1824) first served as Equerry to George III, becoming Groom of the Bedchamber in 1800 until his dismissal due to a reduction in the size of the Royal Household in 1819. His journals help to provide an intimate and comprehensive account of life within the Royal Household during the latter years of the King's reign. Due to his proximity to George III, Greville provides an extremely detailed account of the illness, now attributed to porphyria, which affected the King in 1788-9. In these pages for the beginning of March 1789, we can see the King in a relatively calm period - receiving visitors and government ministers, walking out to Richmond (including a visit the Workhouse and 'Madhouse' at Richmond, and a pastry shop), and attending evening entertainment provided by 'General FitzWilliam's Harper'.
This account tellingly indicates the sadness and apprehension many in the Royal Family and Royal Household felt towards the King's sickness. Greville held a position very close to the King throughout both illnesses and as such was able to report daily on the condition and behaviour of the monarch and the effects any medical treatment was having on his health. The illness would return in 1801, following the death of Princess Amelia the previous year, and would affect him until his death in 1820. |
| Credit | Published with the kind permission of Mr. W J M Chaplin, the executor of Henry Arthur Gunning Brooke, Mr. A Roberts, Ms. J A Shepherd-Cross, Ms. B I Diggens, Mrs. S Izod, and Ms. M A Volk. All rights reserved |