A stunning sword that was made for King George IV’s historic visit to Edinburgh in 1822 is on display in a new exhibition.
The ceremonial weapon, made of blued steel inlaid with gold, is on display in the King’s Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
It appears alongside a deep blue uniform jacket designed by George himself, along with a pair of baby shoes worn by his only daughter, Princess Charlotte.
Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians is the first exhibition to open at the King’s Gallery after an 18-month closure. It was previously known as the Queen’s Gallery, but was renamed following the death of Elizabeth II in September 2022.
In total 100 objects from the Royal Collection are on display. Visitors will also be able to see a rarely exhibited full-length portrait by Thomas Gainsborough of Queen Charlotte, the mother of George IV.
A stunning sword that was made for King George IV’s historic visit to Edinburgh in 1822 is on display in a new exhibition. The ceremonial weapon, made of blued steel inlaid with gold, is on display in the King’s Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
It appears alongside a deep blue uniform jacket designed by George himself. The deep blue military jacket is lined in white silk and features silver lace on the chest, along with five rows of wooden buttons. He was depicted in the portrait of the monarch by Sir William Beechey.
The deep blue military jacket is lined in white silk and features silver lace on the chest, along with five rows of wooden buttons.
The portrait of the monarch made by Sir William Beechey was represented.
In 1782, when Prince of Wales, George was appointed Colonel-Commander of the 10th Light Dragoons, who later became known as The Prince of Wales.
In 1793 he served 33 years with the regiment and, although his father forbade him from carrying weapons on active service, he channeled his interest into collecting military clothing.
His jacket would have been worn with a pelisse, a fur-trimmed jacket worn over the shoulder by hussar regiments.
Also seen in the new exhibition is Benjamin West’s portrait of three-year-old Prince Octavian, who, as the thirteenth child of George III and Queen Charlotte, was one of George’s younger brothers.
These baby shoes were made for Princess Charlotte, the only daughter of King George IV and Queen Caroline.
Princess Charlotte died in childbirth in 1817, aged just 21, leaving her father without an heir.
It shows him wearing a skeleton suit, a style of children’s clothing inspired by the functional clothing of working-class sailors.
George IV’s two-week visit to Edinburgh was the first trip to Scotland by a reigning monarch since the mid-17th century.
The visit was considered a great success. Organized by the Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott, it boosted the king’s popularity in Scotland.
The Holyroodhouse exhibition shows David Wilkie’s full-length portrait of the king in a Royal Stewart tartan.
Her decision to wear a kilt helped cement the garment’s status as a key part of Scottish identity.
Pearl-embellished buttons from a coat worn by George III were reused to create a necklace for the Duchess of Clarence, later Queen Adelaide.
George IV’s two-week visit to Edinburgh was the first trip to Scotland by a reigning monarch since the mid-17th century. The visit was considered a great success. Organized by the Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott, it boosted the king’s popularity in Scotland. The Holyroodhouse exhibition shows David Wilkie’s full-length portrait of the king in a Royal Stewart tartan.
Georgian jewelery was often reused, including by the Royal Family.
The necklace is displayed alongside items from Queen Charlotte’s impressive jewelry collection.
One such item is her opal ring, which dates back to 1810.
Queen Charlotte and George III had 15 children, 13 of whom survived to adulthood.
But his eldest son only had one child with his wife, Queen Caroline of Brunswick. It is known that their marriage was disastrous and the couple separated after the birth of their daughter.
Queen Charlotte, portrayed by Thomas Gainsborough in 1781. She had 15 children with King George III.
A cavalry sword, made before 1783 by Bland & Foster.
George Hunter & Co., Dirk, sheath, knife and fork, part of Highland Dress equipment, 1822
A necklace made from buttons from King George III’s dress jacket. Clothing and jewelry from the Georgian era were often reused
A German jeweled snuff box, made in 1770. It is on display in the new exhibition.
Queen Charlotte’s opal ring, dating from 1810
A ring with a miniature of King George III, made by Jeremiah Meyer, 1761
Exhibits at Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians
George IV had several lovers, including the actress Mary Robinson and Grace Elliot, the divorced wife of a doctor.
It was rumored that she had had several illegitimate children.
In addition to Princess Charlotte’s shoes, an embroidered hat believed to have been worn by her is on display for the first time.
It was bequeathed to the Royal Collection in 2022 by a descendant of the princess’s teacher, Miss Mary Hunt.
Princess Charlotte died in childbirth in 1817, aged just 21, leaving her father without an heir.
It meant that after the death of George IV, the throne passed to his brother William.
Exhibition curator Anna Reynolds said: “The 18th century was an incredibly innovative period, and Georgians were responsible for ushering in many of the cultural trends we recognize today.
Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians is the first exhibition to open at the King’s Gallery after an 18-month closure. It was previously known as the Queen’s Gallery, but was renamed following the death of Elizabeth II in September 2022.
‘From the growing influence of practical working class clothing to the practice of recycling and reusing fabrics wherever possible, the fashion of this period tells a broader story about what was happening in society.
‘It’s fascinating how much we can learn from the paintings, clothing and accessories on display.
“And, thanks to our new £1 ticket scheme, we hope to share it with as many people as possible.”
Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians opened on Friday at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.