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THE LATEST PROGRAMME |
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Jonathan Freedland looks for the past behind the present. Each week, The Long View, recorded on location throughout the British Isles, takes an issue from the current affairs agenda and finds a parallel in our past.
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The role of the heir to the throne, focussing on the Prince Regent, later George 1V.
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Readings for Heir to Throne programme on the Prince Regent.
March 1796: the Prince gives Lord Malmesbury an account of his wedding night at Carlton House with Caroline of Brunswick (wedding took place 8 April 1795).
"You will recall what I told you the day after my marriage of the scars on the Princess's neck and how much I was alarmed and disgusted at this appearance of the evil in her. She has the same on her thighs. But besides this I have every reason to believe that I was not the first, for not only on the first night there was no appearance of blood, but her manners were not those of a novice. In taking those liberties natural on these occasions, she said, "Ah mon dieu qu'il est gros!", and how should she know this without a previous means of comparison."
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31 May 1796: the Prince writes to the King requesting a final separation from Caroline.
"Misled by advisers… she has flattered herself she could reduce me to such a situation as would give her a decided political superiority in this country. This was only to be effected by the degradation of my character… It was hence their joint view to impress the world with a belief that she suffered the most harsh, the most unjust, and the most ungenerous treatment from me, an insinuation which she has sedulously endeavoured to palm upon the public by theatrical tricks on every occasion. The extent to which that erroneous sentiment has gained ground was proved at the Opera House on Saturday night.
You must see, Sir, that where tempers are so widely different, education, manners and habits so completely opposite, it would be difficult in the extreme to maintain domestick tranquillity; but when these obstacles are added to the sense of virulent persecution which I have so unjustly suffered, it must be idle to think of real reconciliation, and it is evident that the Princess does not wish it on her part."
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The Prince Regent's memorandum in support of Catholic emancipation to Prime Minister Pitt, endeavouring to avert Irish rebellion.8 February 1797. (some slight paraphrasing)
"The situation of Ireland demands the most serious attention to prevent the calamities that would arise to Great Britain from a civil war. Its loss or separation would be the most mortal blow that this kingdom could receive. If the secret object of the union of United Irishmen be a revolution in the Government and a separation from Great Britain, it is alarming from its object and formidable from its numbers. The solution is to disunite its members, particularly the Roman Catholics, who are not, as yet, to any degree tainted with disaffection, though they may be led, by degrees, to go the full lengths with the Presbyterians. This could best be done by repealing every exclusive restriction and disqualification on the Irish Roman Catholics. They are naturally loyal and attached to Monarchy and behaved well on the late threatened invasion. In the event of such a measure being adopted, I am willing "to undertake the Government of Ireland, great and arduous as the task appears under the present circumstances, in the hopes of more firmly attaching that valuable kingdom to the Crown of Great Britain and animating the spirit of that loyal and affectionate people to the most powerful exertions against our desperate enemy."
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Dr Charles Burney to his daughter Fanny after dining with the Prince at Carlton House in July 1805.
"I was astonished to find him amidst much constant dissipation, possessed of so much learning, wit, knowledge of books in general, discrimination of character, as well as original humour. He quoted Homer in Greek to my son as readily as if the beauties of Dryden or Pope had been under consideration. And as to music, he is an excellent critic; has an enlarged taste - admiring what is good in its kind, of whatever age or country the composers or performers may be; without, however, being insensible to the superior genius and learning necessary to some kinds of music more than others… He may with truth be said to have as much wit as Charles II, with much more learning - for his merry majesty could spell no better than the bourgeois gentilhomme."
Contributors
Historian - Saul David,
Actor - William Housten,
Journalist and writer, Anthony Holden,
Historian - Vernon Bogdanor,
Charles Secrett, Director of Friends of the Earth,
Journalist - Janet Street-Porter
Further Reading
Prince of Pleasure, by Saul David. Abacus.
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