16 quotes
Conflict Between Monarchs and Madness Explored
Queen Charlotte
TYRANT!!
[storms into the chamber; angrily advances towards and slaps George IV across the face]
George IV
Assaulted by both one's parents in the same evening. What is this life coming to?
Queen Charlotte
I was told it would be so. In England, always the prince hates the king.
George IV
Is that why he is mad?
Queen Charlotte
If he's mad, sir, you've made him so by your idleness.
George IV
If I'm idle, madam, it's because the King gives me nothing to do.
Queen Charlotte
Do? What do I do. I support him. I have his children, 15 of them!
George IV
Then you should be grateful to me for giving you a breathing space. No, a breeding space. I'm sorry. That really is awfully funny.
[chuckles; he and the Royal staff laugh with howls of laughter]
Queen Charlotte
George. No, George, please. Please let me stay with him. Please.
George IV
No, madam.
Queen Charlotte
On what authority?
George IV
Medical authority, ma'am. On the authority of a son, ma'am, who cares for his sick father.
Queen Charlotte
But I'm his wife. Do I not care for him, too?!
George IV
Possibly, madam. But in his current frame of mind, I'm afraid His Majesty does not seem to care for you.
Queen Charlotte
No!
[sobs in anguish]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Concerns Over the King's Health and Care
Lady Pembroke
Mr. Pitt.
William Pitt
Lady Pembroke.
[bows down as he tips of his bicorn hat]
Lady Pembroke
Her Majesty understands that you are dissatisfied with His Majesty's doctors.
William Pitt
The King is no better.
Lady Pembroke
Mr. Pitt, my mother-in-law lost her wits, and a succession of physicians failed to recover them for her. There was, however, one doctor who was confident of her return to health. And accordingly, she was placed in his care.
William Pitt
And is she recovered?
Lady Pembroke
Entirely. Rides to hounds, founded some almshouses, embroiders around the clock. I've written down his name.
[takes out a piece of paper; Pitt retrieves the paper]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Royal Inquiry at Windsor
George III
And what brings you to Windsor, sire?
George IV
I had heard Your Majesty was indisposed, but I see that...
George III
Indisposed.
George IV
Is there any way I can assist?
George III
Want to hump the old bird out of the nest, is that it?
George IV
No, sir. There may be responsibilities that I could share.
George III
Want to get your fat hands on government, is that it? Well, I'm old and infirm. I'll not trouble you long.
George IV
I wish you the best of health, Father.
George III
Wish me? Wish me? You wish me death, you plump little cuckoo!
George IV
Hush, Father, hush.
George III
Hush? HUSH?! You dare to stop the King of England from speaking his mind?! You powdered puppy!
[stands up from the chair; angrily takes off the powdered wig in front of the crowd and the orchestra; throws the powdered wig and chases George IV across the room]
George IV
Papa! Papa, please! Papa, please! Papa! For God's sake, do something! Do something! No, Papa!
George III
I'll choke the air out of you! Let me at him! I'll wring his neck!
[grabs George IV by the neck and pins him to the floor; the Royal servants restrain George III and pull him away]
Queen Charlotte
It was something he ate.
George III
You fools! Can't you see that you will all be put out?!
Queen Charlotte
We know your game, you monster!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Family Discourse on Health and Duty
George III
The son is unwholesome.
Queen Charlotte
And fatter, always fatter.
George III
Fatter because he is not doing, what, what? Do you know England, sir?
George IV
I think so, sir.
George III
You know, Brighton, Bath, yes. But you know its mills and manufactories? Do you know its farms? Because I do. Do you know what they call me?
George IV
What do they call you, sir?
George III
Farmer George. Do you know what that is?
George IV
Impertinent, sir?
George III
No, sir, love!
Queen Charlotte
Affection.
George III
It is admiration, sir. You ought to marry, sir, settle down.
Queen Charlotte
Yes, grow up.
George III
Good plain woman. That's what you want.
Queen Charlotte
Yeah.
George III
Then the people will love you, sir, as they love me. It is not good, this idleness. That is why you're getting fat, sir. Do not be fat, sir. Fight it, fight it!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Call for Family Unity and Normalcy
Francis Willis
Your Majesty, I shall be in the cathedral, should the ceremony prove to be too much of a burden for you.
George III
You may tell Dr. Willis that the ceremony will not be such a burden as the want of ceremony has been. And do not look at me, sir. Presume not that I am the thing I was. I'm not the patient, sir. Be off with you, sir. Back to your sheep and your pigs. The King is himself again. We must try to be more of a family. There are model farms now, model villages, even model factories. Well, we must be a model family, for the nation to look to.
[the Royal Family ascend the steps]
Queen Charlotte
Yes, you must try to be more typical, Fred.
George IV
But, Pa, I want something to do.
George III
Do? Well, follow in my footsteps. That's what you should do. Smile at the people, wave to them. Let them see that we're happy. That is why we're here.
[sees the crowd waving; the Royal Family wave to the cheering crowd]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Critique of Medical Practices and Their Costs
King George III
Is it any wonder a man goes mad? Doctors! 30 guineas a visit and travelling expenses, for six months of torture. They would have a man pay for his own execution, what, what?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Political Dynamics of Regency Power
Charles James Fox
Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen, for your support. Sir, I must vote.
[to George IV]
George IV
Charles, for the life of me, I can't see why they need to vote. The King is incapable. We know it and they know it.
Charles James Fox
Sir, these are the nation's representatives. Now, some of them come to Parliament in the hope that they might serve their country. But most of them, being human, are here to fill their pockets. Pitt and your father have done them very well: pensions, places, bribes. Now, once it is plain that Pitt is finished and there is no more swill in the trough, Your Royal Highness will be made Regent. Sir, I must join the line.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Shocking Revelation of Loss
Mrs. Cordwell
At last! At last! Oh!
Francis Willis
Mrs. Cordwell...
Mrs. Cordwell
No, but this is my husband, come posthaste from Portsmouth.
Francis Willis
Mrs. Cordwell, Captain Cordwell drowned off the Goodwin Sands three years since.
Mrs. Cordwell
But he is very like.
Francis Willis
Now, back to work, Mrs. Cordwell.
[a servant escorts Mrs. Cordwell back I. the field]
Captain Greville
Dr. Willis?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Dispute Over Royal Property and Madness
Margaret Nicholson
I have a property due to me from the Crown of England!
George III
The poor creature's mad. No, no, no, no, no. Do not hurt her. She has not hurt me.
[hands the blank petition to the soldier]
Margaret Nicholson
Give me my property, or the country will be drenched in blood!
George III
Will it, indeed, madam? Well, not with this. It's a fruit knife. Wouldn't cut a cabbage. Ah. Who are you, sir?
[gently exposes the fruit knife; turns to Captain Greville]
Soldier
Oh, this is Captain Greville, sir, the new equerry.
George III
Well, you are undressed, sir. Do yourself up, sir. You're an equerry, not a scarecrow.
Margaret Nicholson
I have a property due to me from the Crown of England.
Queen Charlotte
You murderous fiend! Thank God I have you yet.
George III
Do not fuss, madam. The King has no wound, just a torn waistcoat.
George IV
One would consider that almost as vexing.
George III
What was that?
George III
I was rejoicing, sir, that you are unharmed.
Queen Charlotte
The son rejoices. The Prince of Wales rejoices. Huh!
Prince Frederick
Me, too, Pa. God save the King! And so on.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Encouragement to Smile and Wave
Queen Charlotte
George! Smile, you lazy hound. It's what you're paid for. Smile and wave. Come on. Smile and wave. Everybody, smile and wave. Smile! Wave!
[seeing George IV with a frown in another carriage]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Queen Charlotte Confronts a Sinister Presence
Queen Charlotte
We know your game, you monster!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Proposal for the Prince of Wales Regent
Charles James Fox
Mr. Pitt's consoling pleasantries should not deceive the House. The King is incapacitated. There are those who say he has lost his reason. In which case, I propose that a bill be drawn up to make the Prince of Wales Regent!
[during a meeting in the House of Windsor]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Conversation on Marriage and Interests
George III
Married yet, Mr. Pitt, what what?
[signing a document]
William Pitt
No, sir.
George III
Got your eye on anybody then, hey?
[blows excess pounce off document]
William Pitt
No, sir.
George III
A man should marry - yes, yes. Best thing I ever did. And children, you see, children. Great comfort, of course. This fellow we're putting in as professor at Oxford - was his father Canon of Westminster?
[holding out the document, which Pitt retrieves while handing the king another one; Pitt looks at the new document; indicates the paper]
William Pitt
I've no idea, sir.
George III
Yes! Yes. Phillips. That's the father, this is the son. And the daughter married the organist at Norwich Cathedral. Sharpe. Yes, and their son is the painter. And the other son is a master at Eton. And he married somebody's niece.
William Pitt
Your Majesty's knowledge of even the lowliest of your appointments never ceases to astonish me.
[George III laughs as he signs the document]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Frontier Between Monarchy and Lunacy
Francis Willis
The state of monarchy and the state of lunacy share a frontier. Some of my lunatics fancy themselves kings. He-- He's the King.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Defiance of Royal Authority
King George III
You dare to stop the King of England from speaking his mind?!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The King's Silence Amidst Threat of Torture
King George III
When felons were induced to talk, they were shown first the instruments of their torture. The King is shown the instrument of His... to induce Him not to talk...
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.