Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837; George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830
'_Windsor, 13 Aug._--Yesterday, being the day on which his Royal
Highness George, Prince of Wales, came of age, the same was observed,
at this place, with every demonstration of joy, as far as could
be consistent with the situation of Her Majesty. The Prince came
down about eight in the morning, waited upon the King, with whom
he breakfasted, and received the compliments from his brothers and
sisters, the Duke of Cumberland, Duke of Montague, Lord Aylesbury, etc.
After breakfast, his Highness retired to his own apartments, and, at
noon, had a Levee; Colonel Dalrymple, with all the officers belonging
to the regiment, were introduced to the Prince, and gave him joy of the
day. Several of the nobility and gentry around the country waited upon
his Royal Highness, and were very politely received.
'The Prince had ordered a dinner for his own suite, from Clode's, at
the White Hart, and had a turtle dressed in London, which was brought
down by Weltje, of St. James's Street. His Royal Highness dined with
his Majesty, three of his brothers, five of his sisters, the Duke of
Montague, Lord Aylesbury, and Lady Charlotte Finch. After the cloth was
removed, and a few glasses had gone round, the Prince went to his own
apartments, and sat for some time with Lord Southampton, Lord Lewisham,
Lord Boston, Lord Chewton and the rest of his suite. His Majesty
went upon the Terrace at half past six; the Prince of Wales and his
attendants soon followed. It is said, more genteel company scarce ever
met on that spot.
'The Duchess of Ancaster, Lady Ferrers, the beautiful Miss Hudson, and
a variety of women of rank, did honour to the day. It was quite dark
before the company retired from the Terrace. The Duke of Queensbury
joined his Royal Highness and his suite. The carriages were so numerous
that they filled both Castle Yards.'
There were illuminations at Windsor and in London, where His Royal
Highness's tradesmen and the Hon. Artillery Company (of which he was
Captain-General) held good cheer; but it was felt that the coming of
age had not been celebrated in a sufficiently national style, and a
fête later on was talked of, which never came to pass. Perhaps the
Prince's character had something to do with it, for the _Morning
Herald_ of August 15 says: 'The broad faced dissipation of a certain
young gentleman, gives the most general disgust. Extravagance in the
_extreme_, but ill suits the present state of the British empire.' They
were outspoken in those days!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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