Susan here. Two hundred and one years ago this week, in August 1822, King George IV arrived in Scotland, landing at Leith Harbor and making his way into Edinburgh. The huge fanfare included not just thousands of people lining the streets to cheer and watch, but began with a greeting party of scores of dignitaries that included the Lord Provost of Edinburgh and civic officials, dukes, earls, peers of rank, clan chiefs, as well as Sir Walter Scott, who had organized much of the celebration that took place over the days of the king’s visit. 
King George IV Lands at Leith Harbor, detail. Alexander Carse, 1822. Leith Hall.
My newest novel, Laird of Rogues, in part centers on the king’s visit to Scotland that hot, rainy August, when a 
whisky-smuggling laird and accused prisoner is invited to meet the king--striking great fear of embarrassment in city officials and requiring immediate etiquette lessons courtesy of an official’s daughter. But this laird has another matter to take care of, more important to him than meeting the king.
George IV, the first English king to visit Scotland (without waging war) since Charles II’s visit in 1651, spent that whirlwind visit—called “daft days” by one witness at the time—meeting prominent Scots, including Sir Walter Scott, government officials, peers, Highland chiefs and their entourages, and their ladies. He greeted so many ladies at a special assembly held in honor of Scotswomen that he was said to have kissed (enthusiastically, with wet smacking kisses, it was widely said) literally 
thousands of women in one afternoon. The king was the guest of honor at receptions, dinners, parades, and balls, and was celebrated, lauded, toasted, cheered.
He was also the subject of satire, caricatures, and tittering laughter from the Scots. Although George IV made a real effort to connect with the Scots and to admire and experience the Scottish culture, he had some bumbling moments and made a faux pas now and then—most notably wearing a pair of pink woolen tights with his kilt and gear of Royal Stewart tartan, rather than expose his legs in the proud traditional manner of the Scots.
David Wilkie's flattering portrait of King George in Scotland did not include the king's pink tights.
Although excited to welcome King George to the north, historically the Scots were not big fans of the English. Some were skeptical about the visit, given the long cultural memory of centuries of conflict and oppression under pressure from the English – and eventually English rule with the Acts of Union in 1707, which joined the Scottish and English Parliaments and placed Scotland under English rule with the formation of Great Britain. That was followed by the Jacobite
wars and Culloden in 1745, with Jacobite sympathies lingering among some for generations - fueling political and ideological differences between the Tories and the Whigs - and the Highland Clearances, spanning more than a century of struggle primarily for Highland people tossed out of their homes as lands were sold or leased to those who preferred using vast, beautiful Highland acreage for hunting and country houses rather than raising sheep and cattle.
Recent Comments