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Terrible Tudors, Gorgeous Georgians, Frightening Frenchmen, Brave Victorians,

Woeful Wars, Ferocious Bites, Stingy Cardinals, Daring Knights, Horrors That

Divide, Description, Cutthroat Cults, Morphool Egyptians, Ratchet, Saxon,

Climbs, Parnassians, Prometheus, Dias, Roman, Rotten, Ragnar, Ruthless, Norman,

Savage, Fierce and Turbulent, Civil Wars, Brainy, Fadings, Mean and Misery,

Middle Ages, Gory Stories, We Do That, and your host, the drumming rack, the

past is no longer a mystery, welcome to...

Horrible Histories Horrible Histories presents

Gorgeous George III King

George III most famous for the thing he gave away While ruling he

let go of what became the USA

For sixty years we sang God Save the King to George III and said long to

reign over us. He took us at our word.

King George III, also well known for eccentricity, he called

his pillow Octavius, once shook hands with a tree, held meetings with dead

ministers. It all sounds so absurd.

There's much more to tell you of the life of George III.

King George III was the grandson of George II and the great -grandson of

I and became the third Hanoverian king in 1760 when he was just 22 years

old. It was a time of revolution around the world, so the monarchy wasn't always

very popular.

Not that young George III really noticed.

Isn't it wonderful how all the people know who I am? Now, do take care, sir.

everyone likes you.

Nonsense. Oi, George.

Oh, dear.

They don't seem to like you much, do they?

I think it was meant for you, sir. Oh, a gift. Wonderful.

Ow!

Ow!

Ow!

Another beautiful day for a ride, eh?

Hello, hello, yes, it's me.

Recognize me from the coins?

Jog on.

Yes. Your Majesty, you must be careful now you are king.

Everyone can see you. But my people, they do love me, do they not?

See how they shower me with gifts. And thank you for catching that with your

face.

A petition for the king.

A petition?

Be careful, sir. It may be a trick.

Trick?

Oh, what, to get my autograph, you mean?

Oh, don't be shy, sweetheart.

Everyone loves the king.

Oh, look.

A blunt butter knife. What a lovely present.

Leave that with my man -servant, would you?

Right. Don't break your hands off me!

You must stop provoking my fans, John.

Don't think much of this play.

The actors are tiny.

Aha!

Oh, look, sir. A man with a gun. At last, this play's getting exciting.

Oh, no.

How terribly realistic.

Right, exciting bit's over. Time for a snooze.

It's true. Over 40 years, people really did try to assassinate George four

times. Although it's not quite true that the same servant got hit every time.

One lady tried to stab George with a blunt knife. And when someone tried to

shoot him at the theatre, he really did fall asleep afterwards.

That must have been one boring play.

He should have gone to see this next real -life Georgian attraction, which

the nation by storm.

It's the must -see show of 1743.

I've never seen anything like it. Amazing.

Massive. Wrinkly. Wrinkly, yes.

Clara the Rhino.

Discovered in India. Hit in Holland.

Massive in Germany.

We never saw anything like it. So original.

We had seen all the animals in Germany.

Cats, dogs,

squirrels. The badgers. Bears.

Used to quite like bears.

That got so over now.

John Rhino with a horse.

In her specially built luxury tour cart, Clara the Rhino will visit major cities

all over Europe.

Strasbourg, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Amsbach, wherever that is, and London.

I got an autograph.

You didn't. I did. You didn't. I did. May I? Take home a full range of

merchandise. We've got woodcuts, engravings, commemorative prints.

Porcelain, clocks and boxes. Plus, take home a piece of Clara. Not literally,

your very own commemorative horn.

It's awesome!

Look at me, I'm a rhino!

Rhino on tour.

Rhinoceros, rhinoceros.

Despite his eccentric behaviour, George III was actually a very simple man with

very ordinary tastes. In fact... At times he could be so dull it was his

who were driven crazy. With boredom.

I

have

grown a turnip as large as my head. Who should like to see it?

How about watching me make some buttons?

Who should like to see me dismantle a clock and then put it back together

Right, I'm going to the theatre.

Mother, I require a thousand pounds. But we gave you a thousand pounds only

yesterday. Give, give, give.

Frederick, William, would you like to come and help me waste this money?

Yes, please.

Or you could stay here and we could discuss, I don't know, crop rotation.

Favourite sweet princesses.

At least you're still here with me forever and ever.

Who should like to see my fingernail through a microscope?

Right, that's it. I'm getting married to the Duke of Wurttemberg. But he's

nearly seven feet tall and weighs the same as a cow.

And smells like one too.

Anything's better than things.

Right, I'm getting married as well. I don't even care who to.

You can't...

Can't you see? You're tearing us apart with your relentlessly boring niceness.

Wait. I'll show you something exciting.

A seed potato.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Good day. I'm King George III.

Sometimes my children find me rather boring, despite the fact I love talking

about farming techniques and different types of buttons. I ask you. So can you

guess what they nicknamed our home, Windsor Castle?

Was it A, the prison, B, the nunnery, or C,

the silent house?

Yes, the answer is B. They call it the nunnery, where nuns live.

No wonder they're all trying to get married and live far away from me.

Can I interest you in a button?

No button?

No button?

I'm awake.

Whilst George was busy being boring at home, across the globe the British

was anything but. It's expanded as far away as places like India, from where we

got cotton, tea, spices, and even some of their words, too.

Words we get?

From India.

Good.

Avatar. Hullabaloo.

Yoga. Tulali.

Sure. Baloo.

Mother.

Kashmir. Kashmir.

Parker.

Thud!

Nirvana.

Under George III, the British Empire got bigger and bigger. He was even ruler of

America. Yee -haw! Until they rebelled against him.

Yee -haw! Ouch!

Hello, I'm Geoff Reason, and welcome to Battles of the Day. Coming live from the

18th century, it's the Patriots versus the Loyalists in the American

And with one eye on tactics and the other on a rising body count, it's Jamie

Cattle. Now, Jamie, the American patriots are up against a powerful enemy

British loyalists. But aren't the Americans officially British too?

They're still owned by the British at this point, Geoff, but the government

been hitting them with some outrageous taxes.

They can't even buy a decent cup of tea without being taxed. Well, let's hear

from a man who loves paying taxes, the King of England, George III.

I make a great effort to get along with all my subjects, but...

These Americans, they're unhappy, they're misled, and they're deluded.

Basically, they're idiots.

Right. I mean, you haven't even been to America, though, have you?

What's your point?

We've got breaking transfer news from 1775.

After previously fighting for the British in the Seven Years' War, George

Washington has controversially joined the American Patriots. Jamie. It's a

-profile sign -in by the Patriots, Geoff.

Washington's experience could be invaluable.

George, the British loyalists have got a professional army, whereas your army is

mostly made up of farmers with rakes and pitchforks. Surely you can't win.

It's true, most of my men are frightened farmers who don't know a gun from a

garden rake.

But we've no choice.

It's either the tyrannical rule of the British or revolution.

That's why I have therefore resolved to conquer or die.

Woo -hoo! Yeah!

Oh, my gun don't work and...

I do not know this man.

Farmers against soldiers, Jamie.

It's men against boys, Geoff. No, it's definitely farmers against soldiers.

We've got another big battle at Saratoga in 1777.

A shock win for the plucky patriots, Geoff. Wow, a victory like that is sure

attract some cash from abroad.

They won't win the war without it.

Mr. Frenchman, why are you helping America?

Ah, because we believe passionately in the dream of a free and independent

America. That's right.

No, I'm just kidding. We just really hate the English.

Thank you very much. Well, cheers.

Woo -hoo, yeah!

No, no, you're not French.

Jamie, a bad day for the Brits. They may have lost America, but they've still

got Canada, so, yeah.

The loss of America was a real blow to George III, but back in Britain, life

under his reign saw some huge changes in the way people lived.

But from the doctors to the dinner table, the Georgians still behaved in

pretty strange way.

Ah, a beast fit for a king.

Funny that, because... Yes, all my favourite foods. You can't beat boiled

and a muffin.

Hold on, we sit down in order of importance.

So, Papa sits down first, because he's a bite -out.

Actually, I'm a duke.

I'm more important than a Viscount.

Oh, cow's heels.

Delicious and cheap. You can't beat feet meat.

Oh, yes. So it's the Duke, the Viscount, then me. No, no, no.

Then it's me.

But I'm the eldest sister. Come on, everyone. Tuck in.

This lemonade's my own recipe. Yes, but I'm married to an Isle now, so I take

precedence over you.

Fine. So it's the Duke.

Then me, then you.

Is it just me, or the taste of onions?

Huh? No, it is just me.

All right.

Feed me.

I'm an earl, and you're my wife.

So we're more important than a Viscount.

Yes,

right. So it's the Duke, the Earl, the Earl's wife, the Viscount, and then me.

A message, Your Highness.

Exciting news! My second favourite cow has just had a baby cow.

Wait, why is everyone eating so fast?

Sorry, I forgot to mention, when the king finishes eating, they take our

away.

Lemonade. Onion?

No, no, it's too bad.

Ah,

it's little Carver, isn't it? Yes. Is Dr Hannity not available?

No, he's hurt his back sunbathing. But I'm his locum, Dr Barrington Marmaduke

from the Georgian era.

Barrington? Yes, it was long for Barry.

But, you know, I'm a fully qualified Georgian doctor, so don't worry about

Sorry, Georgian. Now, what seems to be the problem?

Why is he wearing that on his head?

Shush. It's his acne, Doctor.

Have you tried drinking seawater?

No, of course I haven't tried drinking seawater. Would that help?

Oh, well, we Georgian doctors believe that a dose of brine will cure most

ailments. I'm not drinking seawater. No, no, no, no, not just seawater. No, no,

that would be silly. You have to mix it with milk and tartar sauce.

OK, I'm going.

Wait, wait a minute, wait a minute. I do have another efficacious remedy for bad

skin. What's in that? Butter. Right.

Sugar. Lovely.

Gold leaf.

Ooh. Snail shells.

Great. And wine.

Well, I suppose.

Oh, and a puppy.

A what now? Just a dead puppy.

Boiled. Don't worry, I took all the intestines out as recommended. I'm not

idiot.

I'm so sorry he's not learnt to automatically trust everything doctors

Waste not, want not.

Now, my wonderful

subjects agree that I am rather splendid, so they name lots of exciting

discoveries in my honour.

Lemon's up!

But which of these discoveries was originally given my name? Was it... A, a

planet, B, a species of monkey, or C, a type of mechanical clock?

The answer is A, a planet.

My favourite astronomer, William Herschel, named a newly discovered

George's Star, though those pesky Germans are calling it Uranus.

It won't stick.

Here's the thing, I'm the king. I have ministers of millions, millions. Well, a

few, so let me tell you about my... Court life.

Most days I'm awake by 5am. I love court. I'm a dull man who likes dull

Boiled eggs, toast, plates.

Fork night.

Then it's off to prayer.

I love praying.

Like clocks too, but not as much as I like God. And believe in the... Neck

Happy to spend hours in ice -cold churches. Not sold on all this court

Frankly calmer as a dairy farmer.

Wall the courtiers.

Nobles, sons and daughters We all bow hand in hand

Bending backs in my court life

Did

I tell you I like

clocks? I don't like loud knocks on the door. It enrages my sense of enormous

well -being.

Quiet, lads!

I don't ask much of my pages.

Just no coughing, spitting, sneezing, or moving.

Oh,

and don't come between me and the door, else you're stuck here until Neil the

Queen decides to leave.

And when you enter the room, walk slowly backwards towards the wall.

Careful now.

know what one means quite a mover but george iii certainly was an odd fellow

and as he got older his behavior became more and more strange and rather than

spend lots of money living a life of great extravagance like other kings it

farming that became his great hobby

This week on Historical Country File, we've come to the beautiful Georgian era

to talk to a genuine Georgian farmer.

So, farming.

Hello! Oh, Your Majesty.

Oh, please call me Farmer George. Everyone else does, don't they?

I'm always popping in unannounced to help out on the royal farm. Ooh!

Have you met the Prussian ambassador?

Sorry?

Tall chap over there. Green hair.

Not a lot to say for himself.

Sure. Interesting times to be a farmer.

Oh, absolutely.

All change.

More crop rotation, more selective breeding. It's a real agricultural

revolution. We could talk about it for hours. And I often do.

Or... Mind you.

I learnt everything I know from Ralph Robinson in the Annals of Agriculture.

Oh, Ralph Robinson.

Yes, he's a genius.

Yeah, I can't see anything by him in here. What?

I don't believe it. They haven't published my letter. Your letter? I

Robinson's letter. That's it.

I'll have to write to them again. I mean...

Write to them for the very first time because I've never written to them

pretending to be someone called Ralph Robinson. And ask them why they haven't

published my top tips on crop rotation. I mean... Ralph Robinson's top tips on

crop rotation because you see, I am not him.

You've been writing into the newspapers about agriculture using a made -up name.

No.

Honestly. What does a king have to do to get some respect around here?

Did

you

know the name George is ancient Greek for farmer? How appropriate!

George III may have lived quite a plain life, but there was nothing plain about

Georgian fashion.

especially for the men.

I'm Patrick.

This is Heidi.

And welcome to Historical Catwalk.

Today, wow, we've got fashionistas from the reign of King George.

I'm talking Jules, Wig, Frills. And that's just the men.

Go, boyfriend!

First up, it's Villia, the macaroni. Is this like the best outfit ever?

Well, have we wandered into a circus by mistake?

William, you are everything that is best about the macaroni style.

Bright colors, frills, lace, powder, food, both.

You look a bit like a wedding cake.

Oh, yeah.

And you've got a mouth full of cork balls to hide the fact that you've lost

lot of teeth.

Well, if it wasn't for the insects attracted to the flower in your wig, you

would be perfection.

You are so wow, Liam.

God, I wish I'd thought of that.

Let's meet our next contestant.

Charles is a dandy.

Yeah, the dandelicious reaction to the crazy powder clowns of the macaronis.

Charles, you have the look perfectly.

I should think so.

It took me ten hours to get ready. Normally it takes five, but I didn't

color of my handkerchief, so I had to start again.

Even King George III said the Prince of Regent is following the dandy fashion.

Yeah, but there can't be only one winner.

The man with the perfect green handkerchief.

Green? It's...

This is a disaster.

I shall have to start again. I'll be back in five hours.

Well, he's gone, so has the clown things.

The insects from William's dig have migrated.

See you next time.

All that fuss about a few fleas in their clothes.

You should see my pants.

Actually, no, you shouldn't.

George III's behaviour became so unpredictable that in the end his son,

Prince Regent, was put in charge.

Thankfully, he wasn't mad.

No, but he was very, very bad.

I'm here at a celebration of the life of our much -loved King George III.

Now, thousands of people have turned out to show their appreciation for the

king. I'm a kangaroo!

Hang on, this isn't meant to be a celebration of my dad.

This is meant to be a celebration of me becoming Prince Regent.

Yeah, like that's something to celebrate.

In other royal news, ceremonial and official royal duties have been passed

the king to the scandalous waste of space that is his son.

You just call me a waste of space.

Today, King George spent many happy hours touring his bedroom, buttoning and

unbuttoning his waistcoat.

Floppy, floppy!

He's such a character.

Excuse me.

It's just a shame his son insists on hanging around like a bad stink.

Cold. Haven't you got some scandal to be getting up to, as usual?

You can't open the paper without reading about you and your siblings

embarrassing yourselves.

The king's doing his best. His best?

He lost us America.

Yeah, well, if he'd had a bit more support from his kids, maybe he wouldn't

have.

That's a good point, actually.

Do you realise we talked for 57 hours solid over Christmas?

58? Sorry, 58.

Well, he obviously had a lot to get off his chest.

Look, I'm Prince Regent now. Shh.

But I... But I... I've got... God save our gracious... Shh.

Listen to me!

Somebody has to take charge. My father has behaved completely erratically. Yes.

And he's ill.

What's your excuse?

You think she'll be bad now?

Later. We'll be talking to Christian VII of Denmark, who slaps diplomats in the

face, challenges random people to fights, and throws things off his

the street. And he's still better behaved than the Prince Regent.

Harsh.

Kangaroos must get so tired.

That's all from me. Back to the studio.

So, George III lived to the ripe old age of 81 and passed the crown on to his

son, the Prince Regent, who became George IV.

At the time of Georgie III's death, he was the longest reigning monarch in

British history.

Cracking innings, old chap!

Chatty death, chatty death, my grisly interviews.

Chatty death, chatty death, the dead and famous too.

She said, I've been dying to meet you. I said, you're not the only one, love.

What?

Oh, welcome back.

Time for my next guest, former king of Great Britain and Ireland, George III.

Kangaroo.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. Hello, hello, hello.

You look a bit familiar.

We met before.

Well, of course I'm familiar. I'm the king.

And very handsome you are, too.

Likewise. You have very thoughtful eyes.

So, Georgie, Georgie boy, how would you like to be remembered?

Well, I did a lot.

I reigned for 60 years.

I was a good family man, had 15 children, you know.

And I had a great respect for learning. I started a royal collection of

thousands of books.

Oh, yes, and you had a great collection of clocks, didn't you? Yes, I did.

Tick -tock, tick -tock.

Loved them. And I had my own astronomical observatory. Yeah, yeah,

good, very good. What a great guy. Do you want to tell him, or shall I?

No, I'll tell him. It's my show.

Beg your pardon? Tell me what? Well, it's a shame the only thing anyone

remembers you for is that you were mad!

No!

Sorry, mate. That's not fair. It was an illness. You can get just like any other

illness. I mean, everyone gets ill sometimes, don't they?

Yeah. Only last week I had a terrible cough. I couldn't stop coughing and

puffing.

Puffing! Puffing as in puffing, get it?

No. That one tickled your funny bone, didn't it?

I can tell!

It's just that my illness just happened to make me do slightly weird things,

that's all.

Tell you what, I'll grant you a final wish. Oh, goody. As long as it's being

catapulted backwards in a chair into a portal which takes you to the afterlife.

I think he was a few tombstones short of a graveyard, don't you?

But then aren't we all?

Not me, though, eh?

Guys, not me, though.

Guys?

Charming. Chatty death, chatty death. Hope next time it's not you.

It's fresh.

It's fresh.

My father has been here.

Okay. The past is no longer a mystery.

Hope you enjoy Horrible History.