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A Prince's Treasure

120 objects from the Royal Collection return to the Royal Pavilion in Brighton

The works in the loan

The items returned for A Prince’s Treasure were removed from the Royal Pavilion in 1847-48.

The building was stripped when Queen Victoria decided to stop using it as a royal residence. Assuming that the Royal Pavilion would be demolished 137 loads of furniture and decorations were removed. In 1850 Victoria sold the Royal Pavilion to Brighton Town Commissioners. It was an empty and devastated building.

It was widely believed that Victoria sold the Royal Pavilion because she disliked its style. This is not true. She and Prince Albert admired the interiors. A lot of the decorative ornaments and furnishings were used in the new spaces at Buckingham Palace. Victoria and Albert’s interest in saving and reusing the fittings of the Royal Pavilion ensured their survival. Over the years some items of original Pavilion decoration have been returned by Queen Victoria, King George V and Queen Mary and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

These remarkable objects reveal George IV’s vision for his exotic palace by the sea. George, first as Prince of Wales, then as Prince Regent, and finally as King directed the creation of the Royal Pavilion. Originally these objects were all bought or commissioned for this building. They were removed when it stopped being a royal residence in the 1840s. Queen Victoria reused many of them to furnish Buckingham Palace.

Construction work at the Palace has provided the opportunity for over 120 of these objects to return to the Royal Pavilion. They will remain until 2021.

A hand coloured print depicting a view of the gallery in the Royal Pavilion, Brighton. For an earlier state see RCIN 708000.af. Plate 15 of the reissue of Nash's original publication of illustrations of the exterior and interiors
Long Gallery

The Gallery contains items connected with George's mother, Queen Charlotte

A hand coloured print depicting a view of the banqueting room in the Royal Pavilion, Brighton. For an earlier state see RCIN 708000.ap. Plate 20 of the reissue of Nash's original publication of illustrations of the exterior a
Banqueting room

The Banqueting room show how George employed the most talented designers

A hand coloured print depicting a view of the banqueting room gallery in the Royal Pavilion, Brighton. For an earlier state see RCIN 708000.an. Plate 19 of the reissue of Nash's original publication of illustrations of the exterio
Banqueting room gallery

The Banqueting Room Gallery is where George’s guests would retreat after dinner

Faintly etched outline, heavily overpainted in watercolour. Shows detailed interior view of the Saloon of Brighton Pavilion, with five figures in the middle ground centre.
Saloon

Featuring the magnificent 'Kylin' clock

A hand coloured print depicting a view of the music gallery in the Royal Pavilion, Brighton. For an earlier state see RCIN 708000.aj. Plate 17 of the reissue of Nash's original publication of illustrations of the exterior and inte
The Music Room Gallery

The room reflects George's interest in Chinese interiors

A hand coloured print depicting a view of the music room in the Royal Pavilion, Brighton. For an earlier state see RCIN 708000.ah. Plate 16 of the reissue of Nash's original publication of illustrations of the exterior and interio
The Music Room

George used this room for entertaining as well as music

A hand coloured print depicting a view of the King's bedroom in the Royal Pavilion, Brighton. For an earlier state see RCIN 708000.ar. Plate 21 of the reissue of Nash's original publication of illustrations of the exteri
The King's Apartments

Only very special guests would have been invited into the King's apartments


The income from your ticket contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The aims of The Royal Collection Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational activities.