Baron of the Cinque Ports costume,
worn at the coronation of King George IV
c1821, Royal Pavilion & Museums
This fashion exhibition celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Regency Act by looking at the life of George IV as prince, regent and king through fashions of the late Georgian period.
Men’s and women’s costumes are displayed throughout the palace exploring themes from George’s life and the stylistic influences of the period.
A new exhibition space, the Prince Regent Gallery, is dedicated to George and also shows items of dress he wore, from a beautifully printed banyan of the 1770s to his huge breeches worn towards the end of his life. The most spectacular item is George’s extravagant coronation robe, on loan from Madame Tussauds, Merlin Entertainments Group and not seen in public for 30 years.
This is only the second time a fashion exhibition has been held in the former royal palace and it brings to life not only the Royal Pavilion’s architecture but its rich collections of furniture, textiles and decorative arts.