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Lot 68*

GEORGE IV AS PRINCE OF WALES
Autograph letter signed ("ever thine") to Maria Fitzherbert ("My dear love"), complaining that his sister has asked him to go to Windsor Brighton, 23 June 1794

15 September 2021, 13:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £1,275 inc. premium

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GEORGE IV AS PRINCE OF WALES

Autograph letter signed ("ever thine") to Maria Fitzherbert ("My dear love"), complaining that his sister has asked him to go to Windsor "...which is excessively inconvenient to me at this moment in particular, owing to my being to give my annual Regimental dinner on Wednesday...", going on to say he has "...put off my dinner & all my company to Friday... I have just been dining at the General's where we have had a very pleasant & a very jolly party...", ending "Adieu my dear love", 2 pages on a bifolium, lower part of second leaf excised, creased at folds, remains of adhesive on verso, 4to (246 x 198mm.), Brighton, 23 June 1794

Footnotes

'EVER THINE': THE PRINCE OF WALES WRITES TO HIS BELOVED MRS FITZHERBERT.

This fond letter giving an account of his busy schedule and, by inference, reasons why he is unable to see her, was originally endorsed by Maria Fitzherbert on a slip of paper (no longer present) which stated "This letter I received this morng. of the day the Prince sent me word he would never enter my house (Lady Jersey's influence)." In truth it was not the influence of Lady Jersey that caused him to cool relations between them but escalating debts and pressure from his father George III to make an acceptable marriage.

This is one of the few letters from the future George IV to Maria Fitzherbert still extant, as the great majority of their papers and correspondence were destroyed after his death. This letter formed part of the cache retained by Mrs Fitzherbert with the agreement of the King's executors and placed in a sealed box at Coutt's bank (see next lot). It was offered as part of the Portarlington Papers at Sotheby's on 22 July 1985, lot 362.

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