The Stuart Papers

The Stuart Papers (c.1689-1800) are the records of the exiled Stuarts, which were acquired by the Prince Regent, later George IV. The papers were originally kept in the Prince Regent’s Library at Carlton House and the Royal Library at Windsor, until their transfer to the Royal Archives on its foundation in the early twentieth century. The material relates to James II (1633-1701); his wife, Mary of Modena (1658-1718); their son, James Francis Edward Stuart or the 'Old Pretender' (1688-1766) and the latter's sons, Charles Edward Stuart, also known as the 'Young Pretender' and 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' (1720-1788), and Henry Benedict Stuart, Cardinal Duke of York (1725-1807).

The papers, mainly dating from the period 1713 to 1770, document the lives of the Stuarts, the administration and activities of the Court in Exile, the appointment of Court officials, ministers, agents and spies, correspondence with European rulers and their ministers and with the Papacy. The Stuart Papers, with the Cumberland Papers, are now digitised and available to view on State Papers Online (institutional subscription required or free to view at The National Archives).

Papers of William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland

Deposited in the Royal Archives at its foundation in the early years of the reign of George V, the Cumberland Papers (1648-1960s) mainly comprise the records of William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1721-1765), for the period he was Captain-General of the British Army between 1745 and 1757. The papers include material relating to his campaign against the Jacobite claimants in 1745 and 1746, in addition to records of his tenure as Ranger of the Great Park at Windsor between 1746 and 1765. The Cumberland Papers, with the Stuart Papers collection, are now digitised and available to view on State Papers Online (institutional subscription required or free to view at The National Archives). 

Papers of William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne

The Melbourne Papers (1799-1848) mainly consist of Lord Melbourne's official correspondence dating from his terms as Prime Minister and Home Secretary between 1830 and 1841, including correspondence with the two Sovereigns he served, William IV and Queen Victoria. The collection provides a particular insight into the political issues of William IV's reign, such as the Tolpuddle Martyrs of 1834 and international affairs in the 1830s. The Melbourne Papers also include personal and earlier official correspondence, in addition to notebooks of lectures and speeches relating to Lord Melbourne's university education and some papers dating to his death in 1848.