As of today, anyone and everyone will have access to an online portal where they may have a better look into the life of King George III.
By 2020 over “350,000 papers from the Georgian period, only 15% of which have ever been published before” will have been made available, but today one can get a start with the first 33,000 digitally photographed pages.
“They include intimate letters between The King and Queen Charlotte, Household bills, menus, as well as copious letters between The King and his government, his many essays – including on despotism – meticulous, detailed notes about the war in America, and lucid, calm letters to family during his bouts of illness” a press release from the Royal Collection Trust read.
Dubbed ‘The Georgian Papers Programme (GPP)’, the programme is a partnership between the Royal Collection Trust, King’s College London, the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture and William & Mary, Library of Congress, Mount Vernon and the Sons of the American Revolution off the heels of the success of releasing Queen Victoria’s diaries in 2012.
Documentary producer John Bridcut and writer and presenter Robert Hardman have been following the GPP since it was officially launched in front of The Queen at Windsor Castle in 2015. The two have produced a documentary, George III- The Genius of The Mad King for BBC Two which follows the early stages of the massive project.
Andrew Lambert, Laughton Professor of Naval History at King’s College London, is interviewed in the documentary saying: “The King takes his job very seriously. He is processing knowledge on a proto-industrial scale as a part of his role. He’s the best informed Chief Executive this country has ever had.”
Other insights viewers will see are some of the reasons that drove the King “mad” and his ‘voracious interest’ in every detail, no matter how small, of wars in America such as how many blankets the soldiers needed.
George III – The Genius of The Mad King will broadcast on BBC Two on Monday 30 January at 9pm.
